Tyagaraja Aradhana Sangeetotsavam concludes on a resonant note

The week-long Tyagaraja Aradhana Sangeetotsavam, an annual immersion in devotion and classical music, concluded on Sunday at the Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government College of Music and Dance. Organised by the Sangeeta Sanmandali, the festival drew large crowds on all seven days, reaffirming its place as a significant cultural event in the city.

Founded in 1995, the Sangeeta Sanmandali has steadily nurtured the Aradhana into a cherished platform for musicians and rasikas. Nearly 200 vocalists and instrumentalists participated voluntarily, turning the college campus into a vibrant concert venue where Carnatic tradition was presented with discipline and sincerity.

The emotional high point came on the final day with the collective rendering of Tyagaraja’s Pancharatna Kritis. Sung in unison, the compositions were marked by precision in sruti and laya, creating an atmosphere of quiet devotion among the audience.

The campus resonated with Jagadanandakaraka in Naata, Dudukugala Nanne in Gowla, Sadhinchene in Arabhi, Kanakanaruchira in Varali and Endaro Mahanubhavulu in Sri raga. Accompaniment on mridangam, morsing, violin, veena and ghatam added depth and cohesion to the ensemble presentation, enhancing the spiritual and musical appeal of the kritis.

Prominent artistes such as Malladi Suribabu, Modumudi Sudhakar, P. Gowrinath, M. Anjana Sudhakar, N.S. Kalyanaraman, P.S. Phalgun and G. Srilalitha were among those who took part in the Pancharatna Ganam, along with several other accomplished musicians.

A nagara sankeertana held midweek on Wednesday added a visual and devotional dimension to the festival. Artistes took out a procession from the music college, carrying idols of Anjaneya Swamy and saint-poet Tyagaraja, as devotional singing filled the surrounding streets.

Throughout the week, morning and evening sessions featured Tyagaraja’s keertanas rendered with classical restraint and devotional warmth. The balanced handling of ragas and swaras appealed to both seasoned connoisseurs and general listeners, with artistes performing in a spirit of collective harmony.

The seven-day celebrations concluded with Anjaneya Utsavam, bringing the Aradhana to a close on a spiritually uplifting note and leaving a lasting impression on the audience.