SRI THYAGARAJA AARADHANA- FESTIVAL OF CARNATIC MUSIC

The Indian Cultural Centre, High Commission of India in Colombo will be organizing the Sri Thyagaraja Aaradhana, an annual music festival paying homage to the great Carnatic music composer St. Thyagaraja Swamy, on Friday February 17 at 5.30 pm at the Saraswathie hall, No. 75, Lorenz Road, Colombo 04.

Musicians, vocalists as well as instrumentalists and percussionists from all over Sri Lanka including University of Jaffna, Eastern University of Batticaloa, University of Visual and performing Arts, Colombo, Highlands College, Hatton, students of Indian Cultural Centre will come together and render Pancharatna Keerthanas (five songs) of Thyagaraja on this occasion. The choral rendition of the five songs is an integral feature of the Aaradhana. St Thyagaraja Swamy, one among the Trinity of Carnatic Music, composed nearly 700 compositions. All Carnatic musicians consider Thyagaraja as their inspiration, source and touchstone of musical creativity.

Traditionally the commemorative week long music festival “Sri Thyagaraja Aaradhana” is held in the months of January and February every year at Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur District in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, in honour of Thyagaraja Swamy. A large number of leading exponents and lovers of Carnatic music converge at his Samadhi on the banks of the river Kaveri in Thanjavur district to pay homage to him.

This festival is supported by the Hindu Educational Society and the Express Newspapers of Ceylon Limited.

Musicians who would like to join Aaradhana may approach the Indian Cultural Centre in person or mail to iccrcolombo@ gmail.com . Telephone no: 2684698

Admission is free on a first come first served basis.