10-Foot Yakshagana Statue Unveiled at Mangaluru Airport

Speedy Summary:

• Mangaluru International Airport Ltd. unveiled a 10.25 ft tall granite statue of Yakshagana in the airport’s departure area on Friday.
• The statue, weighing approximately four tonnes and mounted on a 3-foot pedestal, highlights the traditional folk art form Yakshagana known for elaborate costumes, expressive dances, and mythological storytelling.
• Created by sculptor Himanshu Kumar from Bihar, who resides in Karnataka, the artwork took 64 days to complete under his studio Akrathi Shilpa Kala.
• This is part of the airport’s initiative to integrate local arts into public spaces for culturally immersive experiences for visitors and passengers.
• Other cultural displays at the airport include a lenticular wall of Bunder’s fishing harbor past and present; figurines depicting fishermen rowing boats; ‘pili vesha’ (tiger dance); Yakshagana characters; and ‘kambala’ (a regional folk sport).

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The unveiling of this granite Yakshagana statue reflects an admirable effort by Mangaluru International Airport to celebrate coastal Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage while enriching passengers’ travel experience through exposure to local art forms. By incorporating elements like Yakshagana and other regional traditions into public spaces within the airport, it ensures that both domestic visitors and international travelers are introduced to unique aspects of Karnataka’s identity.

Such initiatives can elevate tourism interest in culturally meaningful areas while fostering pride among locals regarding their artistic legacy. Additionally, commissioning statues from artists like Himanshu Kumar emphasizes efforts toward preserving Indian craftsmanship across states-an important step towards protecting vanishing folk arts threatened by modernization.

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