Three Yakshagana artistes chosen for Yakshamangala Award 2025–26; Rs 1 crore grant announced

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 26, 2026: Senior Yakshagana artistes Kappekere Subraya Bhagavatha, Yakshagana guru Mambadi Subrahmanya Bhat, and veteran arthadhari Jabbar Samo have been selected for the Yakshamangala Award 2025–26. The award is instituted by the Dr P Dayananda Pai – P Sathish Pai Yakshagana Adhyayana Kendra of Mangalore University.

The book “Balipa Marga haagu Agari Marga” authored by Krishna Prakash Ulithaya has been chosen for the Yakshamangala Krithi Award. The Yakshamangala Award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each along with a citation and felicitation, while the Yakshamangala Krithi Award includes a cash prize of Rs 10,000, besides a citation and felicitation.

The selection committee, chaired by noted folklorist Dr K Chinnappa Gowda, and comprising Prof Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, Yakshagana organiser Murali Kadekar, and Centre Director Dr Dhananjaya Kumble, unanimously finalised the awardees.

The awards will be presented in March, Registrar Prof Ganesh Sanjeev and Yakshagana Centre Director Dr Dhananjaya Kumble said.

Vice-Chancellor Prof P L Dharma stated that Dayananda Pai of Bengaluru has announced a special grant of Rs 1 crore to expand Yakshagana study and research at the Dr Dayananda Pai–Satish Pai Yakshagana Centre of Mangalore University. Pai will attend the Yakshamangala Award ceremony in March and formally hand over the grant on the occasion.