VC opens Yaksha Varna Vinyasa

"Yakshagana is an art form that is deep-rooted in the soil of coastal district and is thriving even to this day owing to efforts of connoisseurs of Yakshagana," said Mangalore University vice chancellor Prof K Byrappa.

He was speaking after inaugurating "Yaksha Varna Vinyasa", a one-day workshop on Yakshagana Bannagarike organised by the Mangalore University Dr P Dayananda Pai and Sathish Pai Yakshagana Study Centre here on Friday. In Yakshagana, an artist himself does the facial makeup, unlike in play and cinema. The Mangalore University has been giving emphasis to sports, art and theatre.

Yakshagana artiste and lecturer Sadashiva Shetty said a Yakshagana artist should have knowledge of Bannagarike, dance, expression, costume design. The facial make-up of an artist varies from character to character in Yakshagana.

The students of Yaksh mangala team participated in the workshop. They were trained in self-application of facial make-up among other things.

Yakshagana Study Centre honorary director Prof K Chinnappa Gowda distributed certificates to the participating students.