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The ancient folk art of “Yakshagana Gombeyatta”- known as Yakshagana Puppetry was founded by three brothers Laxman, Narasimha and Manjappa Kamath, three centuries ago at Uppinakudru, a small village of Kundapura Taluk.
Devanna Padmanabha Kamath, the grand son of Laxman Kamath, persuade this profession with missionary zeal and with the able assistance and patronage of Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, Sri Srinivasa Mallya, Sri K. Sanjeeva Prabhu, Sri K. S. Upadhyaya, Sri Devanna Padmanabha Kamath got National recognition by winning National Award in 1966.
Sri Devanna Padmanabha Kamath breathed his last in 1971 at the ripe age of 80 years, and his son Guru Sri Kogga Kamath took over and trained many youngsters in this art. Sri K. S. Upadhyaya of Mangalore popularized this art and gave this folk art an international reputation by organizing foreign tours beginning from the year 1978.
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Sri Kogga Devanna Kamath also won National Award in 1980, State Award in 1986 and Tulsi Sanman in 1995. Prof. Ku. Shi. Haridas Bhatt was also patronised this rare folk art. Colourful costumes Rhythmic Steps Traditional Music & Dance Kept Alive Through Six Generation. The Family has a image of ganapathi which is more than 300 years old.
String puppets have a special place in the puppet theatre. Daksina Kannada District in Karnataka state is the home of the string puppet theatre. There is evidence to believe that there.
(With yakshaganapuppets.org inputs)