Divine and Magical moments by Smt Sudha Ragunathan in Navaratri Music Festival
The Divine City of Thiruvananthapuram in God’s Own Country welcomes Smt Sudha Ragunathan, for a more recently recognising invitation to participate in the Navaratri Music Festival.
The seventh day of Navaratri was blessed by renowned Carnatic vocalist Padma Bhushan recipient Smt Sudha Ragunathan who performed in the evening concert held in the Navaratri Mandapam, in the close adobe of Lord Padmanabha. The combination of Smt Sudha Ragunathan in vocal, Trivandrum Sri Sampath playing violin and Nanjil Sri Arul and Vellattanjoor Sri Sreejith in Mridangam and Ghatam respectively, gave out a spiritual, magical and energetic atmosphere all around.
Only a limited number of people, based security regulations and Temple rules, were being allowed to be the chosen audience, with the Royal Family of Travancore. Music lovers and fans of Smt Sudha, who made her maiden performance in the Navarathri Music festival assembled in the Mandapam by around 5:45pm. Smt Sudha Ragunathan and team arrived on stage by 6:00 pm and without further delay, the rendering began. Nine songs were sung with beautiful alapanas and avarthanams, well-articulated with Padhathis; few krithis were common while a few were rare and specially rendered for the Festival which moved the hearts with the Magical showers. “Janani Pahi,” in Shuddha Saveri was the main krithi in the concert. Smt Sudha also made mind blowing combinations of her vocals with both violin and mridangam independently. All the three on-stage instruments also got their own solo moments to contribute their best as efficient Pakkavadhyam and as excelling in Thaniavarthanam and Manodharmam. With the time flying fast, the program came to a conclusion by 8:45 with the usual Poojas and darshans following the event.
The pleasure and joy was beyond words to Smt Sudha as very few Women artist are invited to such concerts and is a commendable recognition to the Women folks. The great efforts, dedication and passion have made women artist well on the front line equally competing with men and transforming the expectations of the organizers and audience to delight.
Navaratri Music Festival
Navaratri is a nine-day festival celebrated in the honour of Mother Goddess, Devi. Different rituals and programs are conducted as part of the festival.
Navaratri Mandapam
Kambar, the author of Kamba Ramayanam, is believed to have gifted the idol of Saraswathi, which he worshipped, to the Chera king who was his disciple, in return for a promise that he would worship the idol during every Navaratri, without fail.
Thus, began the Navaratri festival in Trivandrum. Till 1834 AD, Navaratri celebrations were held in the Saraswathi mandapam located inside the Padhmabhapuram palace complex. Later, when the capital was changed from Padhmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram, the celebrations were shifted to the new capital. At present, the idol is brought to Trivandrum at the beginning of Navaratri in a grant procession and is kept in the Navaratri mandapam, where the prayers and rituals continues for the rest nine days.
Mother goddess, Devi, is worshipped as Saraswathi for the first three days, as Lakshmi for the next three days and as Durga in the last three days. Special rituals and Vedic rites are conducted and it continues for the whole nine days.
Musical evenings in Navaratri
Main highlight of the festival remains to be the famous music concert held during the evenings of Navaratri. Famous singers and instrumentalists join together their talents in the Navaratri mandapam, creating magical moments for the listeners. Maharaja Swathi Thirunal has composed nine songs in nine different ragas for the Navaratri. These nine songs (one per day), are sung by the singers in the concert eve along with other alapanas and krithis. The songs are Devi Jagajanani in Raga Sankarabharanam, Pahimam Sri Vageeswari in Kalayani, Devi Pavane Seve in raga Saveri, Bharathi Mamava Kripaya in Thodi raga, Janani Mamavameye in Bhairavi, Saraoruhasanajaye in Panthuvarali, Janani Pahi in Sudha Saveri, Pahi Janani Santhatham in Nattakurinji and Pahi Parvatha Nandini in Arabi, (sung in same order as mentioned).
Pic source: Google
Reported by Yadu Krishna
