Mangaluru: As part of its 11th anniversary celebrations, Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE (Dubai) will stage the Yakshagana ‘Mohini Ekadashi’ at the Dr VS Acharya Auditorium of Alva’s Education Institution in Moodubidire on Aug 4 (Tuesday).The performance is among three events being organised in Dakshina Kannada by the Dubai-based troupe, whose 50-member team arrived in the district Saturday.Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE is marking its 11th anniversary with programmes in Kateel, Moodubidire and Mangaluru. Shekhar Shettigar Kinnigoli, who was part of the Kateel Mela, has been conducting classes at the centre in Dubai.Dinesh Shetty Kottinja, convener of Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra, said the artists will perform the Yakshagana episode ‘Dashavatara’ at Saraswathi Sadana of Kateel Temple as a Gejje Seve to the deity.The Aug 4 programme will also include a felicitation for Dr M Mohan Alva, chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation. The event is being organised in collaboration with the Alva’s Dhimkita Yakshagana Study Centre, he said.On Aug 8, the artists will perform the Yakshagana episode ‘Sudarshanopakhyana’ as a Gejje Seve at Mahatobhara Mangaladevi Temple. The event will also feature the ‘Yaksha Shree Raksha’ honour presentation ceremony, during which prominent personalities who have served the field of Yakshagana will be felicitated, Kottinja said.“Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra founded 11 years ago conducts weekly classes for enthusiasts on Sundays. Dubai has a good number of Yakshagana lovers. Our Yakshagana centre has more than 100 students, who attend classes every week. Our troupe has presented several Yakshagana performances during anniversaries and other community programmes in Dubai. Kannada Sangha, Bunts Sangha and other organisations have been providing platforms for us to present Yakshagana. Further, the troupe also has presented Yakshagana in India and Muscat,” Kottinja said.
