Sri Odiyoor Kshetra Mahatme, a Yakshagana prasanga was staged to mark the 50th birth anniversary of Sri Gurudevananda swamiji, seer of Sri Gurudeva Datta Samstham..." />
Mangalore, October 27: Sri Odiyoor Kshetra Mahatme, a Yakshagana prasanga was staged to mark the 50th birth anniversary of Sri Gurudevananda swamiji, seer of Sri Gurudeva Datta Samstham, Odiyur at the town hall here in the city on Wednesday, October 27.
The programme has been organised by Odiyoor Gurudeva Seva Balaga, Mangalore.
Kumble Sundar Rao, President, Karnataka Yakshagana Academy inaugurated the programme.
Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Karnataka Yakshagana Academy Chairman Kumble Sundar Rao said that the future of Yakshagana is bright.
Mr. Rao said that Yakshagana had ingredients such as gorgeous costumes, enchanting dance and powerful dialogues, which made it a wholesome cultural educator and entertainer. If there was shortage of artistes, Yakshagana gurus were ready to train them, he said.
However, the lifestyle of the people had changed. They were leading stressful lives. No one was ready to sit for a whole night to watch a Yakshagana performance. Hence, what Yakshagana lacked was an enlightened audience. Yakshagana should not be treated as a mere extracurricular activity. It should be made a part of the education of students, Mr. Rao said.
He remarked that Yakshagana is yet to get the honour it deserves, “Each region has its own art to uphold its uniqueness, and several art genres have got sufficient recognition too. But, Yakshagana has not got the recognition it actually deserves,” he observed.
Mr Rao emphasised on the necessity of transforming Yakshagana into an art that represents the entire cultural scenario of Karnataka in the rest of the world. “It is such a flexible art that has the capacity of giving something which everybody wants. From music to dance, from dialogues to costume, Yakshagana has all dimensions of a complete art, which entertains all classes of people,” he noted.
In his benedictory speech, Gurudevanada Swamiji of Odiyur called upon people to protect and practice the local culture and traditions.
Kannada activist Harikirshna Punarooru and Dr N Narayana Shetty were among those present.