Mangaluru, Aug 14, 2018: For the first time, a special Yakshagana show ’Mahisha Mardhini’ was performed in an open air stage at Houston in Texas of the United States recently, thus rekindling fond memories of the Bayalu Rangasthala Yakshaganas back in the home district of Dakshina Kannada.
The Yakshagana Bayalata was organised by Panambur Vasu Aithal and his team from Houston with the co-operation of Kannada Vrinda and Puttige Mutt’s Shree Krishna Vrindavana. The members of Sri Yaksha Deva Mitra Kala Mandali of Beluvai presented the show.
Well known Bhagavatha Patla Sathish Shetty was accompanied on Maddale by Padmanabha Upadhya and on Chende by the team leader Devananda Bhat. Prof. M.L.Samaga as Lord Vishnu, Chandrashekara Dharmasthala as Shurpashaka and Devendra, Prashant Nelyadi as Malini and Devi, Mohana Bellippady as Mahishasura and Mahesh Maniyani as Dootha were aptly supported by local artistes Meena Aithala as Aadi Maye, Sharath Akirekadu as Lord Brahma and Suhas Aithal as Lord Maheshwara.
More than 500 people both Kannada speaking and non-Kannada speaking including a significant number of children enjoyed the performance. Keeping up with the tradition hot snacks were distributed to the audience during the show. Ladies prepared churmuri-chilli puffed rice to treat the audience.
Houston Kannada Vrinda President Mangala Prasad and Balakrishna Bhat of Puttige Mutt honoured the artistes.