-Anand Kumar Barkur
Barkur, March 7, 2026: The Chaturtha Pavitra Nagamandalotsava (Four-fold Sacred Serpent Worship Festival), held on Friday, 6th March 2026 at the sacred shrine of the ancestral Naga deity of Vedamurthi Sri Hrishikesha Bayari, Vedashri, Barkur, was celebrated with great devotion and remarkable success.
The entire programme was organised and led by Sri B. Shantarama Shetty, Barkur, whose dedicated efforts ensured the smooth conduct of all events. The Bayari family extended their heartfelt gratitude to all religious leaders, dignitaries, media friends, and citizens — both local and from neighbouring areas — who extended their support, directly or indirectly, in making the festival a resounding success.
Yakshagana Performance and Felicitation Ceremony
On Saturday, 7th March 2026, near the Barkur Sante Market, a celebrated Yakshagana performance of the story "Sudarshana Vijaya" was staged, coordinated by Sri Pradeep V. Samaga, featuring renowned artists from both the Tenku (southern) and Badagu (northern) traditions of this classical art form.
On the same occasion, a simple but dignified felicitation ceremony was held to honour and recognise the heads of various organisations and prominent individuals from Barkur who had contributed to the success of the Nagamandalotsava.
Those Felicitated
The following individuals, who stood at the forefront from the beginning to the very end of the festival, were recognised and honoured:
Sri B. Shantarama Shetty, Sri Atmaj Shetty, Sri B. Ramachandra Kamath, Sri Devadas Hoskere, Sri Satish S. Amin, Sri Ganesh Balekar, Sri Manjunatha Pujari (Shaurya Barkur), Sri Sadashiva Pujari (Mudu Hitlu), Sri Kusa L. Kundar Hoskere, Sri Ravi Hemmadi, Sri Madhusudhan Kachur, Sri Bharatraj Kachur, Sri Vinay Kumar (Sabhya Friends), Sri Anand Kumar Barkur, Sri Shankar Prabhu, Sri Suresh Pujari, Sri Suresh Naik, Sri Krishna Kachur, Sri Krishnamurthy Rao, Sri Raghavendra, Sri Raghavendra Rao Maski Bailu Barkur, Sri Govinda Ganiga (Pratidhwani Sounds & Lightings), Sri Manjunatha Pujari (Shivashakthi Sounds & Lightings), Sri Madhukar Pujari Halekodi, Sri Iftikhar Kaluvinabagilu Barkur, Sri Ramesh Nayak Kachur, Sri Sharanu Pujari, Sri Bhaskar Hebbar, Smt. Prabhavathi Kedlaya, Sri Prashant Pujari, Sri Ratnakar Shetty Heradi, Sri Dinakar Pujari Kachur, Sri Satish Kotyan, Sri Satish Naik Altaru, Sri Raja Naik Heradi, and many others.
The Bayari family and the organising committee once again expressed their sincere thanks to all those who made this sacred festival a memorable occasion for the community.