'Diligence in art is worshipping God'

Week-long refresher course for young Yakshagana artistes concludes in Ujire

She was addressing the valedictory of the refresher course for the young professional Yakshagana artistes at Siddhavana Gurukula in Ujire on Saturday. The week-long camp was organised by Karnataka  Yakshagana Academy in association with Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
Rao advised the young artistes to inculcate commitment within themselves in learning Yakshagana, and appealed them to adopt aesthetism.

She said though she had the opportunity to learn the different facets of Yakshagana with his father Shivarama Karanth from her very childhood, she opted Odissi as her forte.

In his presidential address, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade said Yakshagana artists should retain the originality of the genre in its essence and form, while attracting more and more audience. “The artistes should not fall prey for bad habits; rather they should imbibe reverence, commitment and regards for the genre. The matured artistes should develop cordial relationships and equality,” he suggested. Dr Heggade advised that the Yakshagana ‘melas’ (professional troupes) should extend their camps to other states too. Expressing his satisfaction over the way in which the camp was successful in refreshing the artists, he assured of conducting the camp in the coming year too in association with the Yakshagana Academy.

Manki Eshwara Nayak, Mohan Kumar Ammunje, Shashikanth Shetty and Prajwal Kumar shared their views on behalf of the camp beneficiaries. Artiste Prof M L Samaga presented a brief report on the camp.

Yakshagana Academy Chairman Kumble Sundar Rao, member Chandrashekhar Shetty, scholar Heranje Krishna Bhat were present. About 47 young artistes of Thenku and Badagutittu participated in the camp.