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Yakshagana
Karavali
Hoovinakolu
Competition At Kundapur Hoovinakolu
is a variant of Yakshagana Talamaddale. It is a shortened version
of Talamaddale presented by a set of boys led by a Guru during Manaumi (Mahanavami),
going from house to house. It has specially prevalent in Udupi -
Kundapur area. Now it is disappearing. It
is called Hoovinakolu, as a pole decorated by flowers is kept in the
middle while the performance is on. The performance runs for about
30-40 minutes to show the learning of the students of Aigalamatha.
It is also used by Yakshagana Gurus to collect sambhavana money. An
attempt has been made by Yakshagana Kendra Hangarakatte, Kota to revive
Hoovinakolu by arranging a Hoovinakolu competition at Kundapur recently. The
competition was inaugurated by Dr H Shantaram, Adminstrative Officer,
Akademi of General Education Manipal. Director of the Kendra, A
Sadananda Hebbar who organised the competition introduced. Sri A S N
Hebbar, President District Sahitya Parishath, welcomed. Senior
organiser and artist Sri M M Hegde was the chief guest. Sri
Avinash Hebbar and Kishor Kumar conducted the programme. Sri Dr
Chandrashekar Shetty, Bhagawath K P Hegde, Brahmavar Subbanna Bhat were
the judges. Hire
Mahalingeshwara Bhajana Mandali Kota, Ananda Balaga Padukere,
Gopalacharya Balaga Basrur, Brahmalingeshwara Bhajana Mandali Sasthana -
won the prizes. Senior artist
Sakkattu Laxminarayanayya gave away the prizes and wished the effort
should continue. Dr H V Narasimha Murthy proposed the vote of
thanks. The performance was well attended. Back... 'Yaksha
Kavya' State Award for Yakshananda Kuthpady 
Sri
Anada Kuthpady pen named as Yakshananda Kuthpady with 'Yaksha Kavya'
State Level Award for the Yakshagana prasanga composition. In
a function held recently at Mangalore Town Hall his puranic compsition 'Vidhi
Vinoda' has been awarded with State Level Award. Hailing
from a Billava community of Kuthpady village in Udupi District, he has
composed altogether 10 compositions, viz., 'Yakshagana Nandini', 'Suvarna
Rekha', 'Dharma Dudhubhi', 'Tyaga Tapaswini', Vanavilasa', 'Rudhra
Tejaswini', 'Naga Naidile' (Tulu). Most of his scripts were
successfully staged by the Badaguthittu Tent and Bayalata troupes.
He has been the member of Kuthpady Ramakrishna Yakshagana Mandali and
the disciple of Guru Tonse Kanthappa Master. Among his scripts
'Yakshagana Nandini' and 'Suvarna Rekha' have been published. Back... Yakshagana
on Postal P O D The
department of Post and Telegraph has honoured the art of Yakshagana in a
special way. It has printed a Rajavesha (King) of Yakshagana on the
reverse of speed post acknowledgment, called P O D, Proof of
Delivery. This gesture by P & T deserves appreciation. Back... Melas
Getting Ready The
professional Yakshagana melas (Troupes) both commercial and temple run (Harake)
Melas are getting ready for the thirugata (Tour). The tour starts in
November, the date of each mela depending upon either the proprietor's
choice or the traditional day in case of Harake (Vow) melas. All
troupes are busy making preparations such as repairs to costume,
formation of the troupe, management policy, bookings, discussion
meetings for new story prasangas etc. The
'pettige's (boxes) have already been opened ('Pettige Tegeyuvudu'). This
means the opening of the boxes for check up and repairs. There have been
major changes in troupe compositions, with change of artists. The
thirugata of 2000-2001 is likely to be crucial for the future of
professional troupes. It may set a trend for the future, either way. Back.. Sri
Veerendra Heggade Honoured in a Special Way 
Padmabhushana
Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari, Sri Dharmastala was honoured at
the Vasanth Mahal, Dharmastal in a special function organised by
Yakshagana artists group. Sri
Heggade in reply to the honour said that he was really touched by the
honour which was different and quote intimate. He called upon artists to
expose and express properly the values and ideals of our epics and
puranas. Artists presented a
wooden crown Yakshagana Kireeta model witha lotus symbolising 'Padmabhushana
Award' conferred on him by the Govt of India, recently. Senior
artists Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat and Perla Krishna Bhat gave the
felicitation address. All artists presented shawl, phalathambula and the
Kirita Momento. Dr M
Prabhakara Joshy welcomed the gathering and explained the need for such
an honour. Artist Kumble Sundar Rao proposed the vote of
thanks. Ujire Ashok Bhat, B Bhajabali and Seetharama Tolpady co-ordinated
the function. Artists led by Bhagawatha Ragurama Holla performed
'Sri Rama Parandhama'. Back... Yakshagana
Sapthaha at Udupi and Ankola Sri
Edneer Mutt Edneer and local committees organised Yakshagana Sapthahas
(weeks) at Ankola and Udupi, as part of the Silver Jubilee Series of
Edneer Sapthaha which started in 1975. The Sapthahas were led and
guided by Sri Sri Keshavananda Bharati Swamiji. At Udupi Sri
Pejawara Swamiji hosted the programmes. Both Sapthahas featured
Talamaddale and Bayalatas. Back... Historical
Artifacts Found A lead
coin belonging to 1 - 2 Century A.D, a pot of the same age and an
inscription of 1534 A.D. were recently found at Kola of Siddapur.
Professors R L Purushottam and Dr Rajarama Hegde of Kuvempu University
Shimoga discovered and they are studying them. A
monilithic statue, probably of Gurunarasimha was found near Devaragudda
of Manjeshwara, Kasaragod District in the property of Ms. Shivamma. This
area has many shrines and remains of the old relics.
Back...
Prof
S V P Passes Away Poet,
administrator, teacher, critic and orator - who served Karnataka in
various capacities with distinction - Prof S V Parameshwara Bhat, passed
away in Mysore on the 27th of October. He was 86. A
professor in the fullest sense of the term, SVP served as teacher at
Mysore and later as Head of the PG Centre Mangalore (later became
Mangalore University). A friendly man with humorous nature, SVP was a
successful teacher who made a lasting impression on his students. His
speeches at various occasions created literary interest among people at
various levels. Prof SVP has
authored over twenty four books. He was an important poet of the 'Navodaya'
school of poetry in Kannada. His
translations of all the works of Sanskrit poets Kalidasa, Ashwaghosha,
Bhasa, Harsha and Bhavabhoothi is a great achievement. His 'Samputas'
containing the translations are a record in any language. Prof
SVP always encouraged young writers and artists. He was a great
admirer of Yakshagana. He called Yakshagana an 'Open University of
the People'. SVP will remain a fond memory and an ideal for a long
period to come. Back... Talamaddale
by Swamijis A unique
Talamaddale was presented at Udupi by Swamijis of various Mutts
appearing as artists in the 'Padukapradana and Krishna Sandhana'
organised at Vasanth Mahal of Sri Krishna Mutt. This was a special
programme organised in connection with the Sapthaha of Sri Edneer Mutt
at Udupi. Sri Edneer Swamiji led the show as the Bhagawatha.
Sri Vishwesha Thirtha, Vishwapriya Thirtha, Vidyadhisha Thirtha,
Vishwaprasanna Thirtha, Vidyaprasanna Thirtha (of Subramanya),
Vidyavallabha Sripada - Swamijis participated as arthadharis. The
programme created a lot of curiosity and was well attended. Back... Shambhu
Hegde, Arate, Upadhyaya-Among Rajyotsava Awardees The
Govt of Karnataka has announced this year's Rajyotsava Awards (Awards
given on the founding day of the newly organised Karnataka State - since
1956). Among the winners are artist, expert organiser Keremane
Shambhu Hegde, artist Arate Manjunatha, Lexicographer, scholar Dr U P
Upadhyaya and Bharatanatya artist Rashmi Hegde. Included in the list of
51 awardees are Dr G S Ameer, Dr G H Nayak, Ms Sudhamurthy and
Journalist Sridhar Achar. Back... Sri
Bhagawathi Mela Announces Thirugata Sri
Bhagawathi Prasaditha Dashavathara Mela (Troupe) of Sasihitlu, Mangalore
Taluk has announced that its tour itenary starts in the second week of
November.
Back...
Kollegana
Mela Started Sri
Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Mandali, Kollegana, Kasargod has announced
its Thirugata with list of artists. The troupe will start its tour
by the second week of November. Archaka Tantri Padmanabha
Upadhyaya will guide the troupe, managed by Sri Balakrishna Katukukke. Back... Sapthaha
Inaugurated At Odiyur 'Art
should be humble, it should bend like the lines of an artist's sketch,
it should not show too much swollen status' said artist, National
Awardee artist K Shambhu Hegde at Sri Odiyur Gurudeva Sanatana Jnana
Mandira,
Odiyur, inaugurating a seven day Talamaddale programme series stretching
over seven Saturdays from 28.10.00 to 9.12.00. He said that
Talamaddale art needs to be reviewed and supported for a healthy
cultural attitude to grow. Dr
Mohan Alva of Moodbidri presided over. Dr M P Joshy was the chief
guest. He stressed the need to make Talamaddale more
'dramatic', Sri Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji of Odiyur blessed the
occasion. He said religious centres should support art for a
better samskara to society. Vidwan Sri Muliya Shankara Bhat
welcomed. Sri Bhaskara Rai Kukkuvalli conducted. Sri
Vasudeva Kottari of Satsangha Samithi co-ordinated the programme, which
concluded with a Talamaddale 'Dattanugraha - Karhaveeryarjuna'. The
seven week programme series will conclude on 9-12-00 with an honour to
eleven prominent artists. Back.. Patel
and Dombe Subbanna Remembered Amcchi
Patel Laxminarayana and Bhagawath Dombe Subbanna, two prominent
Yakshagana artists of Sagar area, were remembered at a memorial function
held at Shirivant, Sagar recently. The programme was organised by
the Tripuranthakesh Yakshagana Kala Sangha Shirivante, at the Shirivante
Temple Hall. Temple Trustee and
President of the Sangha, D V Shivaramayya welcoming the gathering said
both the departed artists were very important members of the Sangha and
were always keen, helpful and capable persons. (Both died untimely
deaths, Patel was in his fifties, Subbanna in his forties). Dr
G S Bhat, Prinicpal L B S B S College, Sagar, released a Prasanga 'Tripura
Dahana' released by Vidwan N Madhyastha of Sagar. Dr Bhat also
conducted the seminar that followed and reviewed it. Sri
Devendra Beliyur, Prof M A Hegde, Dr M P Joshy presented their lectures
and papers at the seminar. There was a discussion on these
lectures. Sri Nisrani Ramachandra and M R Laxminarayana co-ordinated.
There was a full night Talamaddale 'Seethapahara and Vali Moksha' by
local and invited artists. Back.. Dr
Joshy to Chair Taluk Literary Meet 
Dr
M Prabhakara Joshy (Editor of this website), has been chosen to preside
over the ninth Literary Conference (Sahitya Sammelana) of Karkala Taluk,
organised by the Taluk Sahitya Parishath. Prof. M Ramachandra,
President of the Parishath Committee announcing the choice, said that
Sri Joshy has been accorded this honour for his achievements as
Yakshagana Arthadhari and art critic. Back.. Gandhi
Jayanthi - Kille-Kushi Commemoration - Tulu Day - Award
Presentation 
G.
Rajshekhar speaks on Kushi (Dr.Joshy, Erya Alva, A.V. Navada, Veeranna
Dande in picture) "Gandhiji
was neither a mystic withdrawing into a hermitage nor a cynic who
debunked life. His concern was experimenting with truth and his
field of experiment was the community of people around him not solitude,
nor institutions. Gandhiji's success lay in rousing the power of
the multitude. Gandhiji was one of those who could visualize the
kind of philosophy needed to sustain life centuries ahead of us.
Warren Hastings, the first Governor General of India under the British
rule said in a preface that works like the Geetha would live long even
after the British Empire would cease to exist. It was Gandhiji who
designed the kind of technology, which would be required in the
future. Gandhiji's experiments with celibacy have no parallel in
the history of mankind. Understanding Gandhiji's life is a great
challenge" said Vidwan Lakshmnisha Tholpady. He was
delivering a lecture on Gandhiji's experiments with truth on the
occasion of celebrating Gandhiji's birhtday on Oct 2, 2000 at MGM
College, Udupi. "The late
Sri S N Kille was an ardent Gandhian, Tulu activist and freedom fighter
and great exponent of Yakshagana Talamaddale. A part of the oral
history of the Coastal Districts, Sri Kille was a constructive social
worker. His Yakshagana exposition was almost an extension of his
fight for national freedom. Renunciation of animal sacrifice in
rituals, promotion of regional languages, integrator of Harijans into
the main fold were causes for which he devoted his time and
energy. Though adept in playing many roles on the Talamaddale he
was known for his depiction of the character of Karna in the Mahabharata",
said Dr Prabhakara Joshy, paying attribute to the late N S Kille.
The Kille Birth Centrnary Programme was held simultaneously with the
Gandhi Jayanthi Celebrations on Oct 2, 2000. A
portrait of the character of the Prof. K S Haridasa Bhat was beautifully
drawn by Sri G Rajashekhar, an alumnus and one time member of the staff
in MGM College. Striking a personal note at the beginning Sri
Rajashekhar traced the influence of Prof. Bhat on his own life as
student and staff member. Prof. Bhat achieved all-round
development of the college during his tenure as Principal. An able
administrator and organizer he was a man of multifarious
interests. With his kind heartedness he had helped many poor
students. At the same time he was a strict disciplinarian. A
patron of the art and literature he took enormous pains to get the
private collection of books of late M Govind Pai as gift to the
college. He supported the Yakshagana experiments of Dr Karanth.
In addition he himself was a brilliant writer and translator. His
two translations, 'Fantamara' of the Italian nobel laureats Silone and
'Darkness at Noon' are almost a commentary on modern civilization.
The first one lays bare the fangs of expiciation by Fascist forces, the
latter depicted the horror of violence. It was significant that
Sri Honnayya Shetty, a freedom fighter himself, took up the publication
of Fantamara in his weekly journal. Prof.
Haridasa Bhat was an ardent admirer and supporter of the renaissance of
modern Kannada literature. He introduced eminent writers like
Karanth, Masthi, Bendre and Kuvempu to the people of Dakshina
Kannada. Holding the modern values of equality, fraternity and
freedom as vital, Prof. Bhat admired the Renaissance literature for
upholding these values. Prof. Bhat was great liberal. He was not a
crusader. He struck to the ideal of liberalism. His
uniqueness lay in maintaining his grace even under great stress. A
victim of an ill-conceived prejudice by Dr Karanth, Prof Bhat never lost
his regard for the great writer and never gave vent to any ill-will
towards the elderly writer". The
Kushi Commemoration programme concluded witht eh award of two endowment
awards instituted under the name of Prof. K s Haridasa Bhat. The
Kushi Memorial Folklore Award for 1999 was presented to Prof. A V Navada
and the Award for the year 2000 was presented to Dr Veeranna Dande by
Sri Erya Laxminarayana Alwa, who presided over the function. Prof. A V
Navada and Dr Dande thanked the organisers for the honours presented to
them. Another award presentaion
was held as part of Tulu Day on the same occasion. Kadangodlu
Poetry Award and Polali Sheenappa Hegde Award for the year 2000.
While Dr Vishnu Bhat introduced Prof. Vasantha Kushtagi, whose
unpublished anthology 'Kadubeladingalina Ondu Kathe' won him the awrd,
Sri Polali Balakrishna Shetty introduced Dr. Sunitha Shetty whose
remarkable contribution to Tulu literature brought her the Polali
Sheenappa Hegde Award. The Awards were presented by Sri Erya
Laxminarayana Alva and Sri K K Pai, Registrar, Academy of General
Education. Prof. Vasantha Kusthagi in the thanksgiving speech
recalled the influence of poets of Dakshina Kannada on the other parts
of Karnataka. Dr Sunitha Shetty made her thanksgiving speech a
Polali Commemoration programme. She touched upon the salient
features of the late Tulu enthusiast's life. She also recited a
poem in Tulu. In his
Presidential address, Sri Alva commended the organisers in clubbing
together 5 different programmes on the same morning. He sketched
the life of Late Govinda Pai who closely followed the tenets of Mahatma
Gandhi. Earlier Smt Pramila
Kundapur conducted a 'Ramdhun' programme to mark the celebration of
Gandhi's birthday. Kavya Kaveri,
a short programme of reciting Kannda poems was conducted by Sri B K
Karanth with the help of Rajaram Bhakta and Satyavijay Bhat. This
was sponsored by the Udupi Branch of Department of Kannada and Culture.
(R G P R C) Back... Heggade Calls for a
Crusade Against Alcohol "Drinking
alcohol is a great social evil. We should all join a crusade
against drinking and bring about a revolution" said Dr D D
Veerendra Heggade of Dharmastala, delivering the valedictory address of
a ten day 'Stop Drinking Camp' organised at Kokkada. The camp was
organised by the Dharmastala Rural Development Project and Janajagrathi
Vedike Kokkada. Sri Sri Charukirthi Swamiji of Moodbidri Jain Math
blessed the gathering. Over a hundred people participated and are
making good progress in overcoming the habit of drinking. Back...
Muddana Kavya
Prashasti for Radhakrishna
Young and promising poet
Radhakrishna Bellur has been awarded the Muddana Trust Award of
Kanthavara Kannada Sangha recently.
Back...
Farewell to Dr Father
Henry
Dr Father Henry D Souza,
Driector, Sandesha Cultural Foundation was given a touching farewell
recently at Sandesha, Premnagar, Bajjody, Mangalore.
Father Henry, who the famous
and successful director of Sandesha goes to the Bishops National
Communication Centre, New Delhi.
Dr Henry, a communication
expert, is a very active, capable and popular organiser. He
founded the Sandesha Cultural Foundation. The foundation gives
training in music, art, dance, journalism besides organising many art
festivals. A believer in integration and a lover of Indian
cultural forms, Dr Henry firmly believes persons of all religions should
develop an Indian Identity. Father
Henry founded the prestigious Sandesha Media Awards for persons of
outstanding contributions in art, journalism, welfare etc. He was
responsible for starting the Sandesha College of Fine Arts (Degree
level). A warm, friendly and
energetic person, an intellectual of high calibre - Dr Henrys going to
Delhi is a loss to cultural circles in Mangalore. The
function was presided over by Rt Rev Paul D'Souza. Dr C N
Ramachandra, Dr B S Talwadi, Prof Amrith Someshwar were the chief guests
who spoke highly of Dr Henry's achievements and qualities. A F
D'Souza gave the memento. Trustees honoured him. Trustee
Godin D'Souza and Roy Castelino conducted. The
new director of Sandesha Father Denis Desa thanked the gathering. Best
Wishes to Father Henry; Welcome to Father Denis Back...
Balco Balagopal is No
More
S R Balagopal (Founder Balco
Studio, Mangalore), a well known drama actor and photography expert died
recently. He was 81. A
comedian of outstanding ability Sri Balgopal was the associate of Late
Ramananda Choorya and Sri B V Baliga. He was also famous for his
hilarious monoacting performances. He
was active on the stage between 1945 - 1970.
Back... Kanthavara
Kannada Sangha (1975 - 2000) in Siver Joy Kannada
Sangha Kanthavar is an important literary cultural organisation of
Coastal Karnataka. It has rendered yeoman service in spreading
literary interest in rural areas of Karkala. It has organised many
poets meeet, cultural programmes, awards and honours besides publishing
important books. Dakshina Kannada Kavya is one such
publication. It is giving an award every year in the name of poet
Muddana, to budding poets. The
Sangha plans to organise a year long Silver Jubilee programme series
including a conference, seminars, publications, festivals, Yakshagana,
honouring of senior authors etc. A
committee led by K Maranna Mada, Dr. Na. Mogasale, Vittal Belady
and others are already working on the scheme. Back...
Vidhwan
P Krishna Bhat Honoured
Vidhwan Puchhakere Krishna Bhat, Headmaster Sri
Durgaparameshwari School, Kateel was honoured at a grand public
honouring function at Kateel by Sarwajanika Sanmana Samithi including
his students, temple management, colleagues and well wishers. P Krishna
Bhat, a renowned teacher, Yakshagana artist and organiser retired from
service recently.
Popularly known as 'Pucchakere', 'Maguvanna' and 'Kittanna'
- is very capable, much loved person of outstanding capacity and
popularity. He served the school for over 30 years, 25 years as
headmaster. He is a good arthadhari, veshadhari, and a Yakshagana
liaison person.
He served as the secretary of Bhramari Yakshagana
Mandali of Kateel over 20 years and conducted Navaratri Bayalata and
Saptaha programmes very successfully. A man for all occasions, a
very warm and friendly person, Pucchakere is very much respected
in the area.
He was presented with golden ornaments, silver
mantapa, siver kireeta (crown), phala tambula and shawl. His wife
Mrs Lalita was honoured with 'bagina'.
Sri Harshendra Kumar of Dharmastala presided and said
that this was a memorable honour and an occasion where real love for a
teacher poured in such a measure. Sri K Vittla Shetty, Yakshagana
organiser of Kateel Mela, was the Chief Guest. Dr Joshy and Dr
Gananath Yekkar felicitated Sri Bhat.
Sri Sri Vishwaprasannateertha Swamiji blessed the
occasion. Sri Kateel Laxminarayana Asranna welcomed. Sri
Harikrishna Punarur graced as Chief Guest. Sri Krishna Bhat said
he was simply overwhelmed with the honour and thanked all those who
organised and all those who helped and guided him in his career and in
art.
The programme was followed by a Bayalata, with groups
from both Tenku and Badagu Thittu participating.
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