YAKSHAGANA - SUDARSHANA GARVABHANGA

Sunday, 25th Feb. 2018
Nayana SabhaBhavana, NammaBengaluru.

"Yaksha Degula",is a pioneering association promoting Yakshagaana for last 40 years in Bengaluru. Every year they identify and honour a distinguished  Yakshagaana artist. This year it was Keppekere Gajanana Heggade, a noted and a fine Yakshagaana Bhagavataru for last 40 years.
He was honoured with a shawl, memento and a cash amount for his dedicated service to the performing art, Yakshagaana.

KeppeKere Gajanana Heggade receiving honour

In his reply, he said that Yakshagaana is losing its original form and being commercialized. The whole night performance with novel stories from Ramayana, MahaBharatha, with strong message to the society is made into a short piece for entertainment.

Sujayeendra Hande as Sudarshana

YakshaGaana, performing art from coastal Karnataka is rich in songs, dance, costume, and dialogues and messages to society. Bhaagavataru is the man who sings with accompaniment of instruments like Taala, harmonium, Mridanga, and Chande. The artist with heavy costumes dances with different styles and verity, sometimes for 10 to 15 minutes continuously and explains the meaning of songs with actions.

RAAKSHASA COSTUME

"Sudarshana GarvaBhanga", was a story from MahaBharatha, where Devendra was defeated by a Rakshasa and he pleads to SrimanNarayana to kill this Daanava. The king Sudarshana was able to kill him his metal chakra, and he became very proud. He considers himself above everybody and this angers Narayana and he curses him. After realizing his behaviour, he repents and he realizes that "Shodhane" (realization)  must lead to "Saadhane" (Performance) and not to "Vedane" (pain).

WE WERE THERE

It was a splendid performance by all artists. Special mention must be made to excellent performance by Sujayendra Hande, who acted as Sudarshana. Be it dance, dialogues, expressions or acting, it was simply superb.

It was 2- hour show on stage with no special lighting arrangement,  but real entertainment and strong message, which could be applicable even today. "Don't become too proud".

                                                               VIDEO JHALAK

posted Tuesday 27th Feb.2018

SALEKERI HABBA (Festival) - ಜಾತ್ರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವ 2018

16 - 17th February 2018
Salekeri, Brahmavara, Udupi Dist, Karnataka

CHANDIKA HOMA

Birthi,Salekeri is the place where I was born and brought up. My father, Venkatramana Somayaji was the temple priest for many many years (more than 40 years). During my younger days I used to accompany him for special occasions like festivals, Sone Arthi.
The temple deity is BrahmaLinga Veerabhadra Sri Durga Parameshwari.

Over the years, the temple has seen renovation, changes for better, and the people, mostly weaving community looks upon temple deity for all their welfare and prosperity.

The Annual Festival, Habba, Jaatraa Mahotsava usually takes place in the month of February. Though it is 6-day festivities, people from all over the place gather on the day of Deities Meravanige (Procession) on the streets of Salekeri in the night with pomp and pageantry.

The next day, used to be DHAKKE BALI, another ritual but due various reasons, instead there is RATHOTSAVA on the streets upto Badaa Salekeri and back.

People from the town born and brought up and went to school, now working in different parts of India, come to native place for participating in the celebrations and networking, meeting each other, and pay obeyance to God Almighty.

Grocery shop of RaghuramPai (Dhaga)

Number of food stalls, merchandise and other attractions come for short time and do their brisk business as large number of people gather for the festival. For some, it is also time to show off their newly acquired wealth and position in the society.

JAATRAA MAHOTSAVA is time for celebrations.

posted Wednesday 21st Feb. 2018

DR SHIVARAMA KARANTHA THEME PARK

Sunday 18th Feb. 2018
Kota, Udupi District

We were going for a lunch (oota) at Kota, from Birthi Salekeri, we made a short visit to Dr Shivarama Karantha Theme Park at Kota,

The place is dedicated to Jnana Peetha Prashasthi awardee, Kadala Theerada Bhargava, Dr Kota Shivarama Karantha. The premises has beautiful ambiance outside with garden, a small pool with a bronze statue of Dr Karantha in the middle and the atmosphere is serene.

Inside the building, there is gallery type auditorium, a museum with statues of eminent Kannada writers and many paintings.

Regular cultural programs and award ceremonies take place in the auditorium and lot of people visit the place just to spend some time and see the museum.

We were there for some time and left the place with a good feeling.

posted Tuesday 20th Feb. 2018 

BOOK RELEASE PROGRAM AT UDUPI

Saturday, 17th Feb.2018

RoofTop Hall, Kidiyur Hotel, Udupi

We were in Birthi, Salekeri, Brahmavara to attend Jaatra Mahotsava at Salekeri, I got the meddage about the Book Release program at Kidiyur Hotel. Hence we decided to attend the program.

It is humorous book "VIVAHA BHOJANAVIDU", written by Sri Shantaraja Aithal and is organized by Suhaasa Udupi/

Sri B V Kedilaya

Ramesh Bhat M

Also to pay tribute to Sri GopalaKrishna Adiga, on his birth centenary Sri B V Kedilaya spoke about half an hour, highlighting his poems, thoughts and thinking.

Sri Shantaraj Aithal distributed the copies to his friends and other guests. Sri ChandraShekara Kedlaya sang a melodious song written by GopalaKrishna Adiga,

Ramesh Bhat proposed vote of thanks.

posted Tuesday 20th Feb. 2018