Kuriya Vithal Shastri Award 2025: Honoring Yakshagana Legends in Puttur
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Puttur July 8,2025: The Kuriya Vithal Shastri Cultural Foundation held the closing ceremony for the Kuriya Vithal Shastri Award and Tala-Maddale Saptaha at Sri Sukruteendra Kala Mandir, celebrating the tradition of Yakshagana. Edneer Mutt’s Sri Sachchidananda Bharati Swamiji praised the foundation for carefully picking the awardees and mentioned late humorist Peruvadi Narayan Bhatt as an example of dedication to art and society. Keremane Shivanand Hegde and Kokkad Eshwar Bhatt received the Kuriya Award, and philanthropist R.K. Bhatt was honored with the Kuriya Smriti Award, highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve culture.
Yakshagana Legends Honored with Prestigious Awards
The ceremony honored well-known Yakshagana artists. Keremane Shivanand Hegde from Idagunji Mahaganapati Yakshagana Mandali and senior female impersonator Kokkad Eshwar Bhatt received the Kuriya Award. Philanthropist R.K. Bhatt was given the Kuriya Smriti Award for his support of the arts. Swamiji praised the Idagunji troupe for keeping traditions alive and carrying forward late Shambhu Hegde’s vision. Karnataka Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr. T. Shyam Bhatt called Kuriya Vithal Shastri a revolutionary teacher who made his home into a gurukul to guide students. Ujire Ashok Bhatt carefully chooses award winners to make sure they represent true artistic values.
Tala-Maddale Saptaha Concludes with Community Support
The seven-day Tala-Maddale Saptaha ended with the ‘Gurudakshina’ performance, which drew a lot of interest from the audience. Peruvadi Narayan Bhatt’s family made a generous donation to the foundation, handed over by Ujire Ashok Bhatt, showing strong support from the community. Artists like Ramesh Bhatt, Swastik Padyana, and Na. Karanth Peraje played important roles in making the event a success. Held at the Sri Lakshmi Venkataramana Temple, the program highlighted the community’s love for Yakshagana. Each day, the performances attracted many people, proving the art form is still very important to the culture.
Keywords: Kuriya Vithal Shastri Award, Yakshagana, Tala-Maddale Saptaha, Puttur News, Puttur, Keremane Shivanand Hegde, Kokkad Eshwar Bhatt, cultural heritage, Karnataka arts, Edneer Mutt, Peruvadi Narayan Bhatt, Ujire Ashok Bhatt, traditional arts
The ceremony honored well-known Yakshagana artists. Keremane Shivanand Hegde from Idagunji Mahaganapati Yakshagana Mandali and senior female impersonator Kokkad Eshwar Bhatt received the Kuriya Award. Philanthropist R.K. Bhatt was given the Kuriya Smriti Award for his support of the arts. Swamiji praised the Idagunji troupe for keeping traditions alive and carrying forward late Shambhu Hegde’s vision. Karnataka Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr. T. Shyam Bhatt called Kuriya Vithal Shastri a revolutionary teacher who made his home into a gurukul to guide students. Ujire Ashok Bhatt carefully chooses award winners to make sure they represent true artistic values.
Tala-Maddale Saptaha Concludes with Community Support
The seven-day Tala-Maddale Saptaha ended with the ‘Gurudakshina’ performance, which drew a lot of interest from the audience. Peruvadi Narayan Bhatt’s family made a generous donation to the foundation, handed over by Ujire Ashok Bhatt, showing strong support from the community. Artists like Ramesh Bhatt, Swastik Padyana, and Na. Karanth Peraje played important roles in making the event a success. Held at the Sri Lakshmi Venkataramana Temple, the program highlighted the community’s love for Yakshagana. Each day, the performances attracted many people, proving the art form is still very important to the culture.
Keywords: Kuriya Vithal Shastri Award, Yakshagana, Tala-Maddale Saptaha, Puttur News, Puttur, Keremane Shivanand Hegde, Kokkad Eshwar Bhatt, cultural heritage, Karnataka arts, Edneer Mutt, Peruvadi Narayan Bhatt, Ujire Ashok Bhatt, traditional arts