'Declare Yakshagana as State art'

Yakshagana is a complete art form. The government should declare it as an ‘Art of the State’ and spread it to every corner of Karnataka. Just like Kerala government, which has marketed Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, the State too should promote Yakshagana, said Moodbidri Alva’s  Education Foundation Chairman Dr Mohan Alva.

Delivering the keynote address during inauguration of ‘Sarayu Sapthaha,’ a Yakshagana weekly, by Sarayu Bala Yakshavrinda Makkala Mela at Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple premises here on Tuesday, he said that experiments should be done in Yakshagana during global village era. ‘Give and take’ policy should be followed as many art forms in India and Sri Lanka are similar to Yakshagana, he said.

With the time, the learning ability of students has also increased, but there is a problem in guidance. The art forms like Yakshagana give a lot of freedom to artists, using this one can do the needful without dropping the basic essence of the art.

Kota Shivarama Karantha had done a few attempts like using musical instruments like violin, but more experiments should be done in this regard, Alva added.

“To counter the modern art forms of the world, we have to think broad and look into the new possibilities in the art form. Moreover, our elders have put strong foundation to the art form. We have to retain it to the next generation,” he added and hailed Ravi Alevooraya for his efforts to nurture Yakshagana, for the past 13 years.

Yakshagana artiste Sunnambala Vishweshwara Bhat was felicitated on the occasion.