UDUPI: The
Yakshagana performance during a boat trip from Malpe to St Mary’s Island on
Udupi Paryatana Parva (
World Tourism Day) has received an overwhelming response with the district administration getting a lot of enquiries and demands to hold more such programmes. Now, Yakshagana performances on houseboats are being planned in the backwaters near Hoode and Kodi Bengre.
Purushotham Adve, an artiste and organizer said, “As people demand such events, we are planning to organise Yakshagana programme in the backwaters. The event was a success in the seawater and we expect it to be calm in the backwaters. Also, Yakshagana is usually liked by people with certain mindset and the tourist visiting St Mary’s Island may prefer folk performances more than classic performances. However, if there is a demand to organize the event mid-sea, it may cost around Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000, including payments for artistes, boat and food.”
Adve said he had advised the district administration to organise Yakshagana during the Malpe to St Mary’s Island trip. “As the journey takes around 20 minutes, instead of wasting time, I suggested the administration to organise the event. Yakshagana performance entertains people and keeps tourists informed about our tradition and culture,” he said.
Adve said such performances are common in other states, but new to Udupi. “We are planning a two-hour event on the boat which can accommodate 60 people at a time,” he added.