In commemoration of the 30th year of Shree Ganesh Festival celebrations in Muscat, the Festival Committee organized a Sarwajanika Satyanarayana Pooja and Yakshagana shows at Shree Krishna Temple Hall, Darseit, Muscat on Friday, 5th September 2014.
Morning Pooja Rituals
Morning session was filled with devotional rituals of Shree Satyanarayana Pooja. The Main Archaka, Shri Shankaranarayana Adiga conducted the proceedings, who was ably assisted by Gurudas Pejathaya and other Archakas. Hundreds of devotees partook in the pooja and sought the blessings of the Lord Satyanarayana. Banana stems, Tender coconut bunches, fresh flower garlands, fruits adorned the mandap. The Mandap decoration was beautifully crafted by Shri Vishwanath along with Divine Spark team.
Members of Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda rendered devotional songs in praise of Lord Satyanarayana. The pooja rituals concluded with the distribution of Prasadam to around 1000 plus devotees.
Evening Entertainment “Yakshagana”
The celebration mode continued with the finale offering in the form of two Yakshagana plays, Bhakta Prahlada and Indrajitu Kalaga at the same venue. The entire hall was packed with Yakshagana art lovers, who enjoyed both the plays to the core and left the hall with a great display of appreciation.
Artistes from Mangalore, headed by Bhagavatharu, Shri Ravichandra Kanandikatte and Yaksha Mitra Troupe,Dubai performed and illuminated the Rangasthala. An eye catching Rangasthala was erected to uphold the traditional style. Stage decoration was done by Ravi Kanchan, Vishwanath Bangera and team.
Shree Ganesh Festival Committee members ,as a befitting tribute to the commemoration, strove hard to organize this splendid evening.
Shri Koni Prakash Naik, welcomed the audience and highlighted the background and the essence of Yakshagana . Further, he narrated the synopsis of the prasangas. Also, he profusely thanked His Majesty and the concerned Ministries for their benevolence.
Lighting of the Lamp;
The inaugural lighting of the lamp in the traditional custom was conducted by Shri Sarvotham Shetty, Dubai, Shri Diwakar Shetty , Shri Ramesh Shettigar,Convenor alongwith the members of Shree Ganesh Festival Committee.
Bhakta Prahlada unfolded the various encounters between Hiranyakashyapu, Kayadu, Prahlada and Narasimha.. Their dialogues with indepth essence displayed the different emotions between all of them. Also, finally conveyed a moral story that faith in God is paramount, God will always prevail, God saves his devotees, Devotion can be practiced at any time, any age. Evil will be punished and God is Omnipresent and Omnipotent.
Indrajithu Kalaga depicted the period of the action packed confrontation between Indrajithu,Hanumantha, Rama and Lakshmana and the victory of Lakshmana.
Roles and Artistes:
Bhakta Prahlada :
Master Pratheek Pakkala, as Ganapathi , Balakrishna .D. Shettigar as Vishnu, Krishna Prasad Bhat as Lakshmi ,Ravindra Uchil as Hiranyakashyapu, Asha.D.Correa as Kayadu, Kum Sharanya Venkatesh Shastry as Prahlada, Sudhakar Thumbe as Narasimha ,Aditi Dinesh shetty and Prapthi.J.Pakkala as Bala Gopala, Girish Katipalla as Shishyaru, Vikram Shetty and Vasanth Shervegar as Katukaru and Shishyaru, Donald Corea as Shishyaru,
Indrajithu Kalaga:
Shekar.D.Shettigar as Indrajithu, Vikram Shetty Kadanle as Ravana, Samantha Hegde as Vibhishana , Kishore Gatti as Lakshmana, Mohana Ammunje as Hanumantha, Balakrishna.D.Shettigar as Shree Rama,Krishna Prasad Bhat as Maya Seethe,Harish Shettigar as Kapi ,Girish Katipalla as Ravana Dootha, Jambhava, ;Pratheek Pakkala as Nala, Aditi Dinesh Shetty as Angadha, Prapthi.J.Pakkala as Neela .
Yakshagana — Amalgamation of music,dance,dialogue,costume and make-up:
The artistes had donned colorful costumes, and the brilliant makeup by Varnalankar, Shri Gangadhara Shettigar .Bhagavathar Shri. Ravichandra Kanandikattes rendition,Shri. Padyana Sankarnarayana Bhat s rhythmic beats on the chende and Shri. Venkatesh Shastry on the Maddale and Chakra Tala by Chandramohan . enhanced and well supplemented and complemented both the Prasangas.
Shri Shekar.D. Shettigar Director of both the prasangas directed commendably. Shri. Dinesh Bejai and Shri Bhaskar Neermarga , as Stage support ,supported ably.
The Back stage support team comprised of Jayananda Pakkala, Aarti Dinesh Shetty, jayalakshmi Pakkala, Vishwanath Shetty,Amba Venkatesh Shastry Shri Chidananda Poojary and Shri Dinesh Shetty coordinated the presentation of the play efficiently.
His Excellency J.S. Mukul, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman and Mrs. J.S. Mukul graced the event who were honourably presented with floral bouquets.
Shree Ganesh Festival Committee comprising of the Convenor Ramesh Shettigar, Koni Prakash Naik,Ramanand Kunder,S.K.Poojary, Karunakar Rao Kadri, Ashok Kotian, Umesh Karkera, Shashidhar Shetty, Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoli, Ravi Kanchan, Mangaldas Kamath,Gurudas Pejathaya, Shreenivas Shriyan ,Dr.Anchan.C.K., and Kashinath Anchan felicitated all the artistes with bouquets and mementos in the traditional way in appreciation of their highly energized and power packed performances .
Shri.Sarvotham Shetty (President, Karnataka Sangha, Abu Dhabi )and Shri Vasu Shetty from Dubai were also present and were felicitated with bouquets.
Shri. G.V. Ramakrishna ,Head, National Sales and Expat Services , Bank Muscat , a great supporter of art and culture , also displayed his appreciation by presenting gifts to the artistes.
Mrs. Jaya Ramesh proposed the vote of thanks.
It was indeed an aesthetic culmination emboldened with culture and traditionally rich essence.
Article : Koni Prakash Naik, Muscat
Pictures: Nagesh Kumar
