The week long 162nd Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival reached a crescendo today, on the occasion of Bhagula Panchami day with the rendering of Pancha Ratna Kritis by the veritable who's who of carnatic music world.

All musicians and rasikas had descended at the lush green Cauvery banks at the Samadhi of Saint Thyagaraja and so were the clouds which had blanketed the entire skyscape. The melodious music mingled with the mild rain which lasted the full one hour program, occasionally getting heavier at the percussionists gave company to the singers.

At the appointed time, Nagaswara Vidwan kick started the day's programme with the Mangala Isai as the utsavar icon of Thyagaraja was brought amidst vedic chanting from his house at Thirumanjanai Vidhi to the Samadhi.

The sea of humanity surged to the Samadhi and sang along with the artists, the Pancharatna kritis in Gana ragas - Nattai, Gowlai, Aradhi, Varali and Sri. A huge pandal was constructed at the Samadi to accommodate the musicians and the multitude. After the ritualistic rendition of chetulara in Bairavi lead by the veteran flutist Dr N Ramani, the five gems of the Bard drenched the atmosphere with musical showers as his magnum opus unfolded in pristine form. The icon of Thyagaraja adjoining the pandal was given a holy bath when the Panchratna Kritis rent the air. The Mangala Haarati to Thyagaraja was done during the Sri Ragam Kriti enthro mahanu bhavalu which verily sums up the saint poet's life. All the roads and lanes which lead to the Samadhi were packed with stalls and shops dishing out books, toys, accessories and eateries.

The Pancharatna kritis ended but the musical obeisance to Thyagaraja continued and most of the crowd wended their way back through the by-lanes, narrowed further by stalls on either side like the life line, Cauvery.

Mira
From Thiruvaiyaru

Jan 15^th 2009

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