Udupi will host the 2026 Yakshagana Kala Rang award ceremony on Sunday, 15 November, at the Infosys Foundation Yakshagana Development, Training & Research Centre (IVC) on Sharda Mandap Road. The event begins at 4:30 pm and will honour veteran performers while providing scholarships to students.
Shri Vivaswaprasannatheertha of Pejavara Math will deliver a benediction message. Dr T Shyam Bhat, member of the State Human Rights Commission, will preside over the programme, and former minister Sunil Kumar of Karakal will inaugurate the Transformer segment.
Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna will distribute a total assistance of 8,34,500 rupees to 74 students of the Yash Vidyaposhak. Dr Talluru Shivaram Shetty, president of the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy, will present the Santwan fund. Entrepreneur Harish Roys from Bangalore, Leelaksh B Karkera of Mangalore, MPE Society president Shivani Krishnamurthy Bhat, and Shri Vinayaka Yakshakala team president Jayanta Uin will attend as chief guests.
Twenty‑four senior Yakshagana artists will each receive a cash award of 20,000 rupees. A prize of one lakh rupees will be given as the Shri Vishwaeshatheertha award to the Kerakadu Shri Vinayaka Yakshakala team, while the Yakshachaitanya award will go to Kisor C Udyavara, a member of the institute’s executive committee.
From 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, a performance of the Yakshagana “Raja Drupada” will be staged by artists from Badagutti, announced by institute president M Gangadhara Rao and secretary Murali Kadekar.
Awardees for the memorial prizes include: Dr B B Shetti Memorial Prize – Ramachandra Panganay; Prof B V Acharya Memorial Prize – Narsimha Marakal; Nitturu Sundara Shetti‑Mahesha D Shetti Memorial Prize – Hanumantha Laccagoud Sidd
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi