Honnavar: Senior Yakshagana Artiste Jalavalli Venkatesh Rao passed away at a private hospital in Sirsi yesterday.

He was 86 and leaves behind his wife, a daughter and three sons including Yakshagana artiste Vidyadhara Jalavalli.

Hailing from Jalavalli in Honnavar taluk in Uttara Kannada district, Venkatesh Rao was a Yakshagana exponent in both Badaguthittu and Thenkuthittu styles.

He donned the role of leading characters at the Saligrama Mela for over 20 years. He was a recipient of Rajyotsava award and many more. He was a contemporary of late Chittani Ramachandra Hegde.

The body is kept at his home in Jalavalli for public to pay their last respects to be followed  by last rites.