Sirsi, July 22, 2013: “Yakshagana (vocal style of art) is a supreme art: a combination of spiritual and religious themes which reaches people of all walks of life,” said Ganagadharendra Saraswati swami of Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt.

He was speaking after conferring the Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat award to Narayan Hasyagar of Karki on Sunday at Vidhyadhiraj Kalyan Mantap. Of the late Sheni Gopalkrishna Bhat, the seer recalled his yeoman service to Yakshagana. He had enriched Kannada culture by his oratory, the seer said. Bhat also introduced new nuances to the art.

The seer regretted that Yakshagana was losing its original form as entertainment was given priority over educational themes and values. 

Source: The Hindu< DT. July 22, 2013.