Sampaje village in Dakshina Kannada will be abuzz with activities on Saturday (November 1) as more than 155 Yakshagana artistes will present an overnight performance.
The village is in between Sullia town and Madikeri town on Mani-Mysore State highway.
Dr. Keelaru Gopalakrishnaiah Prathisthana, Sampaje has organised the annual ‘Sampaje Yakshotsava’ for the consecutive 24th year, according to its convener Hiranya Venkatesh Bhat.
According to Mr. Bhat the Yakshagana festival usually attracted more than 10,000 people. The ‘prathisthana’ (foundation) organised the show every year in the premises of a school prior to Yakshagana ‘melas’ (touring troupes) began their tour in late November and early December. Usually it would be in the first week of November.
The festival has boasted of performances by both well known professionals and amateurs. Many years the performance would extend till noon the next day.
“Every year we choose Saturday for hosting the performance so that people can relax on Sunday,” Mr. Bhat said.
In all, four ‘prasangas’ (episodes) from the mythology would be performed overnight. They are Shivakarunya, Bheeshma Prathijne, Vamshavahini and Amrutha Kalasha.
This year’s Sheni Award would be given away to senior artiste Shivarama Jogi. The award which comprises of Rs. 10,000 and a citation has been instituted after doyen of Yakshagana late Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat, he said.
The episodes to be performed would be from both ‘Tenku Thittu’ (Southern school) and ‘Badagu Thittu’ (Northern school). Some of the noted ‘bhagawathas’ (singers) who would participate this year are Raghavendra Acharya, Puttige Raghurama Holla, Balipa Narayana, Patla Satish Shetty, Dinesh Ammannaya, Padyana Ganapathi Bhat and Ravichandra Kannadikatte.
Noted performers to take to stage this year are Chittani Ramachandra Hegde, Balkur Krishna Yaji, M L Samaga, Harinarayana Edneer, Subraya Holla, Chandrashekara Dharmasthala, Mantapa Prabhakara Upadhyaya, K. Govind Bhat, Jayaprakash Shetty Permude, Sadashiva Shettigar and Sheenappa Rai Sampaje. (EOM)
