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Yakshagana Kalaranga (R), Udupi

Established in 1975 for providing yakshagana performances of good taste to the audience, Yakshagana Kalaranga has become a prestigious NGO in this region, dedicated to the cause of organizing a variety of socio-cultural activities. Yakshagana lovers of Udupi namely Sri Ammunje Nagesh Nayak, Nittur Sundara Shetty, MS Krishnan, GV Shenoy, K Ananda Ganiga, U Upendra, K Vishwajna Shetty and others having common interest founded Yaskagana Kalaranga which was inaugurated by literary giant Dr. Kota Shivarama Karantha.

Journey

Yakshagana Kalaranga (YK) with the history of 46 fruitful years has now become a brand name for yakshagana-related activities in and around Udupi with the sole aim of serving culturally and academically from social perspective. There are the selfless efforts of hundreds of people behind the present coveted status and the top personality is Dr. B. B. Shetty, a familiar face in social circles of bygone Udupi, who dreamt of the wonderful performance for the local spectators by selected artists from different troupes that visited Udupi in 1970s. The legendary figure Kota Shivarama Karantha inaugurated Yakshagana Kalaranga by lighting the lamp in 1975 in the presence of Sri Vishwajna Shety, Prof. BV Acharya, Prof. GR Rai, Sri Ammunje Nagesh Nayak, Sri K Ananda Ganiga, Sri I Narayana, Sri S Vishweshwara Bhat and many more.

The main objective was to arrange for good quality Yakshagana performances during rainy season when the troupes rest and to present Yakshagana Taalamaddale in which the dance part is absent and rich oral rendition that creates wonderful mythological world is prominent. Dr. B. B. Shetty served as the dynamic President of YK during formative 18 years. Initially YK’s address was c/o Nirmala Lunch Home of Sri Sundara Shetty or Lalitha Clinic of Dr. B. B. Shetty. For a few years Nittur High School was it’s postal address. In 2001 His Holiness Sri Sri VishweshaTheertha Swamiji of Sri Pejavara Matha offered first floor of the Matha’s building near Carstreet, Udupi, which continues to be its office since then.

The field of activities of YK has grown tremendously over the years and it has widened the scope in terms of serving the society. Along with Yakshagana performances YK has taken up the cause of welfare of the artists through a forum known as Yakshanidhi. Its societal concern has been recognized. Further, the philanthropic public have supported its venture of providing scholarships under Vidyaposhak scheme to brilliant but financially weaker students of Udupi Dist. It has taken up the task of giving yakshagana training to the high school students of Udupi Dist. under Yaksha Shikshana Trust.

Initially the founders of YK contacted and persuaded the art-loving public to become the members, contributing an annual membership of Rs. 12. Gradually the work of YK got public recognition & appreciation; those with devotion for Yakshagana came forward voluntarily and became life members, paying Rs. 1000 (now Rs. 2000). Further the team of volunteers who would work silently for the success of YK programs became large which enabled YK to branch out and take up multifarious activities such as arranging yakshagana workshops, lec-dems or organizing summer residential camps for vidyaposhak students.

YK is a registered body, having got registered on 31-07-1985 with Reg. No: UDP-S68-1985-86. The donations to YK (PAN: AAAAY0510A) are qualified for deduction u/s 80G of Income Tax Act. Yakshagana Kalaranga has also been registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. 2010 (FCRA), registered under Section 11 (1) of the Act, with Registration No: 094690028