Thu May 22 14:12:09 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Yakshagana Scholars and Author Honored with Mangalore University’s Yakshamangala Awards**

**Mangaluru, May 22, 2025** – Mangalore University has announced the recipients of its prestigious Yakshamangala Awards for 2024, recognizing the contributions of three eminent Yakshagana scholars and one Kannada author to the art form.

The Yakshamangala Award will be conferred upon Ramananda Banari, M. L. Samaga, and Siddakatte Sadashiva Shettigar, all celebrated figures in the world of Yakshagana. Ashoka Hasyagara Sirsi will receive the Yakshamangala Book Award for his Kannada book, “Dasharupakagala Dashavatara,” a comparative study of Yakshagana and Natya Shastra.

The Registrar (administration) of Mangalore University, K. Raju Mogaveera, announced the awards on Thursday, May 22nd. The Yakshamangala Award includes a cash prize of ₹25,000, a citation, and a memento, while the book award carries ₹10,000 in cash, a citation, and a memento.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in June, under the chairmanship of P.L. Dharma, Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University.

The selection committee, comprising K. Chinnappa Gowda, Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, and Dhananjaya Kumble, lauded the recipients for their dedication and expertise.

Ramananda Banari, a doctor and artist, has authored over 15 books and is a renowned Talamaddale artist. M. L. Samaga, a former professor of English, is a veteran performer and scholar proficient in both Tenku and Badagu Thittu schools of Yakshagana. Siddakatte Sadashiva Shettigar is a senior professional artist known for his “bannada vesha” performances. Ashoka Hasyagara Sirsi’s book has been praised for its rigorous research and insightful analysis.

These awards underscore Mangalore University’s commitment to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Yakshagana.

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