6-decade-old music festival continues to draw crowds

KARIMNAGAR: The annual Sri Thyagaraja Aradhano-tsavalu, a music festival held on the premises of the ancient Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Vemula-wada every January since the last six decades, continues to evoke an overwhelming response from pilgrims from various parts of the  state and residents, with scores of eminent musicians, dancers and artistes of Hari Katha and  folk singers from across the country coming  to perform here.

This is the only temple to hold the event in the country after Shiva’s home,  Thiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, the birthplace of Thyagaraja.

The management of the SRRD has been organising the unique five-day festival to commemorate saint Thyagaraja, a pillar of the Carnatic music trinity,  since 1950 upon the initiative of Cheviti Sambaiah, a classical singer and native of the temple town, who had attended the Sri Thyagaraja Aradhano-tsavalu held at the Thiruvaiyaru temple and drawn inspiration from it.

With Vemulawada having a historic abode of Lord Shiva and a music college, he decided to organise the festival in the town in 1950 at a considerable cost.

The SRRD took charge by and by making it an annual event and earmarking funds for it. “This time, our outlay was '10 lakh: 500 artistes are taking part and we have a total of 94 events spread over five days,” executive  officer of the shrine D. Rajeshwar Rao said.

Veteran playback singer P. Susheela sang devotional songs and Pancharatna kritis written by Thyagaraja, enthralling audiences on the inaugural day, January 28. 

Dr Mangalampalli Bala-murali Krishna and Ghantasala, Mandolin Srinivas,  Yella Venkateshwar Rao, P.B. Srinivas and Tanikella Bharani are among those who performed.