Udupi: Veteran Yakshagana artiste Tonse Jayanth Kumar passed away in Udupi early yesterday morning. He was 78. Kumar is survived by wife and three sons.

Kumar had excelled as a Yakshagana Veshadhari and later as a Yakshagana guru and contributed immensely to the field.

He was the guru of the Udupi Yaksha Shikshana Trust and was responsible for its success from the beginning. He had received several honours including Yakshagana Akademi Award, Sri Rama Vithala Award and Yakshagana Kalaranga Award.

The body was kept at the artiste’s house in Gopalapura in Santhekatte for public to pay their last respects. Cremation was held today morning at Beedanagudde grounds, according to family sources.