Mangaluru : Veteran Yakshagana Bhagavath Bottikere Purushotham Poonja died on Saturday late night. He was 68.

Poonja, who was suffering from illness, was undergoing treatment at a hospital.

He was a BSc graduate and served the first Mela of Kateel as chief Bhagavath. Poonja had worked as chief Bhagavath for 45 years in Uppala Mela, Geetambika Mela of Mumbai, Puttur Mela, Karnataka Mela and served in Kateel Mela for the past 30 years.

Poonja has written 32 Prasangas in Kannada and Tulu language. His prasangas Ma Nishada, Ubhayakula Billoja, Nalinakshi Nandini, Megha Mayuri, Swarnanupura, Dalavayi Muddane, Kudiyana Kombirel, Garudakenjave, Pattadakathi, Kudiyana Kanna and Swarnakedage are very popular in the Yakshagana field.

Bhagavath Poonja was the recipient of many awards like Muddana award, Yaksha Manasa award of Mumbai, Academy book literature award, Asranna award, Karnoor award etc

Poonja had converted his home into Gurukula and used to teach hundreds of students about Bhagavathike and Yakshagana literature.

He is survived by wife and two sons.