Udupi: A  Yakshagana Saptaha organized at the Rajangana of Udupi Krishna Mutt was inaugurated on June 18, Monday by Sri Vishwa Vallabha Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Sode Vadiraj Mutt. Renowned Yakshagana artiste Soorikumeru K Govinda Bhat was felicitated at the inaugural function.

Arate Manjunath, another Yakshagana artiste received the Govinda Vaibhava title while entrepreneur and Yakshagana patron Yadava Kotian was conferred the Kala Poshaka title by the Swamiji.

Presiding over the function, Prof. ML Samaga President of the Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, said  artist need to have the urge to excel more and more in his art. The sense of satisfaction should never come to him as far as the art was concerned, he added.

Among others present on the occasion were Hariyanarayana Asranna, priest of Kateel Temple and Pramod Madhwaraj, entrepreneur.