Thyagaraja Aradhana - Powai - 6.2.10

Music lovers residing in the suburb Mulund to Powai gather at different venues to pay homage to Saint Thyagaraja. He lived centuries ago, the life of a saint devoted to music. His compositions in chaste Telegu with lyrical nuances are sung in formatted style by music aspirants.
Singers of all ages gathered at Swami Narayan temple, Powai to pay homage to Saint Thyagaraja
On Bahula Panchami day, music lovers all over the world pay homage to the musical genius. His temple at Thiruvaiyaru is a holy shrine where renowned musicians gather and pay homage. For those who cannot go there aradhana close to home is the best alternative.
The 163rd Aradhana was celebrated under the aegis of Powai Fine Arts at the Swami Narayan temple on January 30. Dr G Ramakrishnan welcomed the devotees present and Suman Badami, dance exponent from Powai spoke on the significance of Thyagaraja Aradhana.
Senior disciples of Guru Kalyani Sharma, vocalists Mala Shankar, Bhavani Srinivasan, Bharati Nagaraj, Prasanna Warrier, Hemalata Veeramani, Pankajam Ramanathan, Bala Swaminathan and Savita Balasubramaniam were among the singers who presented the Pancharatna Keertanams in well rehearsed unison.
Accompanying these vocalists were Kamala on the Veena and Vijayalakshmi and Vijayalakshmi Ramachandran on the Violin. Mridangam support by S Shankarnarayanan and his disciple Sriram Balasubramaniam added the required rhythm to the singing.
Following this was rendition of Utsava Sampradayam and Sampradaya Divyanama Kritis, group singing by children and individuals.There was a lot of appreciation for the tireless coordination efforts by Bala Swaminathan. “I feel fortunate that as a music guru I have been able to continue this tradition for the past many years.
Though I have been away from Powai suburb for a few years, I feel the continuity is not lost,” says Bala Swaminathan.“The ladies from the campus attended to every detail from decoration to preparation and distribution of prasadam,” says Vidya Chandramouli from Powai.
Earlier, on January 23 disciples of Subbhulakshmi teacher and devotees of music gathered at the guru’s residence in Mulund for a homely celebration of the Aradhana function. After a brief prayer to the saint and the teacher’s grandfather Palghat Anantharama Bhagavathar, veteran singer, the students presented the Pancharatnams.
On February 7, music devotees will gather at the first Floor of Bhakta Sangham temple complex hall in the morning to pay homage to Saint Thyagaraja, under the aegis of Mulund Fine Arts Society. Singing of Pancharatnams will be followed by Anjaneya Utsavam.
In the evening students trained under difficult faculties of singing, violin and mridangam in the music school run by Mulund Fine Arts Society will perform.“This improves the confidence of the students and motivates them to do better,” says Hemalata Veeramani, principal of the music and dance school.

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