Artistes pay homage to Saint Thiyagaraja at Tiruvaiyaru

THANJAVUR: Tiruvaiyaru in the district resonated with the soulful melodies of Carnatic music on Tuesday as musicians from across the country gathered to pay homage to Saint Thiyagaraja, a luminary among the trinity of Carnatic music. The occasion marked the 177th annual aradhana festival, honoring the saint’s death anniversary, and featured a grand ensemble performance of the ‘pancharatna kritis’— the five gems of Thiyagaraja’s compositions.

The festivities commenced with the rendition of the ‘unchavrithi’ bhajan at Tirumanjana Veedhi in Tiruvaiyaru, the very place where the revered saint composer once resided. The adorned idol of Thiyagaraja was carried in a ceremonial procession to the ashramam complex, where special ablutions were performed at the samadhi. The air was filled with the melodious strains of the ‘chetulara’ keerthanai, skillfully performed by flautists led by Prabacham S Balachandran, setting the stage for the enchanting ‘gana raga pancharatna kritis.’

The day unfolded with musicians weaving a tapestry of musical brilliance as they rendered the revered ‘pancharatna kritis.’ As the sun dipped below the horizon, the idol embarked on a majestic procession through the streets of Tiruvaiyaru, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of ‘mallari’ music. The five-day celebration reached its crescendo with the culmination of the festival in the grand ‘anjaneya utsavam’ held later that night, marking the harmonious conclusion of the musical tribute to Saint Thiyagaraja.