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VIBRANT:Children of Nittur High School staging ‘Babruvahana Kaalaga’ at Kishore Yaksha Sambrama in Udupi on Tuesday.

Udupi: The students Yakshagana festival titled Kishore Yaksha Sambhrama got off to a colourful start with a lively performance of the Yakshagana episode “Babruvahana Kalaga” at Rajangana here on Tuesday.

This 18-day festival, organised by the Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, Yaksha Shikshana Trust and Paryaya Shiroor Math, began on Tuesday, will culminate on January 3.

Selected students of 34 high schools trained by Yakshagana gurus in coordination with the Yakshagana Kalaranga organisation will be performing during the festival.

The aim of the Yaksha Shikshana Trust behind training the students of high schools in Yakshagana was to attract and educate them about the art form of Yakshagana. This would expose them to the richness of art form. It would create an enlightened audience for Yakshagana for the future.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Vishwapriya Tirtha Swamiji of Admar Math said the temple town of Udupi had encouraged and promoted Yakshagana from many centuries. In fact, Udupi was the central point for the two schools of Yakshagana. The Tenkuthittu school of Yakshagana flourished in the areas to the South of Udupi while the Badaguthittu school of Yakshagana flourished in the areas to the north of Udupi.

“The Yakshagana Kalaranga organisation is teaching pure form of Yakshagana to students. Yakshagana should be enjoyed in its pure form,” he said. “Yakshagana plays a vital role in providing mental peace to people and the society. It educates and entertains people,” said Vishwapriya Tirtha swamiji.

Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math inaugurated the festival. Member of the academy Murali Kadekar, Kalaranga president T. Shivaram Shetty, and managing trustee of Ambalpady Temple N.B. Vijay Ballal were present