Mangaluru: Kateel Mela’s Chief Bhagavatha Prasad Balipa for whom Bhagavatike came as a legacy has passed away at a private hospital here on Monday April 11.
Due to ill health, he had not participated in Melas this year. He is the son of Balipa Narayana Bhagavath, a famous artiste of Tenkutittu Balipa legacy. Yakshagana was inherited by Prasad. He was Bhagavatha in ‘Kateel Yeradane Mela’.
Prasad was suffering from throat cancer, and under treatment for the same. He was born in Maloor Nooyi of Moodabidri. His father was his Guru. He started Bhagavatuke at the age of 17 years in Kateel Mela of which later he became the Chief Bhagavatha.
Prasad Balipa with his ‘yeru’ style of Bhagavatike of Balipa legacy was the mainstay Bhagavatha for ‘prasangas’ such as Devi Mahatme, and Kateel Kshetra Mahatme among others.
He has a huge fan following since three decades. Apart from unique Bhagavathike style, he had great knowledge of mythological aspects. He achieved immensely in the field of Yakshagana just like his father. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
He had bagged ‘Bondala Award’ given in the name of Bondal Ramanna Shetty. He was awarded the same on February 18 this year.
