Moodbidri : Hindustani vocalist Pandit Venkatesh Kumar was presented the Alva’s Virasat Award on the second day of the 30th edition of the virasat on Wednesday at Moodbidri.

Speaking after receiving the award from Alva’s Education Foundation chairman M. Mohan Alva and other dignitaries, Pt. Kumar said he dedicated the award to his guru Pt. Puttaraja Gawai. Discipline, prudence, and time management, as being demonstrated by Dr. Alva, were important. Programmes like the virasat should go on for years, he said.

Pt. Kumar said that he was fortunate to have the late Pt. Gawai, who propagated Hindustani music in Karnataka, as his guru. He nurtured Pt. Kumar for 12 years in his guru mutt.

Pt. Kumar was brought to the stage in a grand procession before being presented the award. The award carries a purse of Rs.1 lakh and a citation.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor P.L. Dharma, former MLC Capt. Ganesh Karnik, Karnataka Scouts and Guides Chief Commissioner P.G.R. Sindhia, Expert Institutions chairman L. Narendra Nayak, and others were present.

Later, Pt. Kumar presented a vocal concert beginning with “Shree” raaga and went on to present other compositions. Stating that concerts should be easy to understand for the audience, he said that minds hearing the music should remain cool. His presentations included Dasara padagalu and vachanas.

Mr. Narendra Nayak accompanied him on the harmonium, Keshava Joshi and Vighnesh Kamath on the tabla, Ramesh Kolakunda and Raghava Hegde on the tanpura (tamburi), and Vineeth Bhat Koteshwara accompanied with taal.