GURUVAYUR: The renowned Chembai musical festival heralding the Guruvayur Ekadasi was formally inaugurated at the Melpathur Auditorium here on Saturday. High Court Justice R Basant inaugurated the music festival and presented the coveted Sree Guruvayurappan- Chembai Puraskaran to mridangam maestro Mavelikkara Velukutty Nair.
The award comprising of Rs 50001 in cash, citation and gold locket of Sree Guruvayurappan was presented at the meet. Devaswom chairman Thottathil Raveendran presided over the meet. Devaswom administrator V Ratheesan, members Mallissery Parameswaran Namboothiripad, Gokulam Gopalan, T R Harry, M Vasudevan, Shaju Shankar and award winner Velukutty Nair also addressed the gathering.
The traditional inauguration of the Sangeetha mandapam will be performed by temple thantri on Tuesday morning.
Nearly 3000 artists will participate in the 15-day-long festival which will conclude on December 9, Guruvayur Ekadasi. The famous Pancharatna Keerthana alapanam will performed on Dasami day.
The All-India Radio will live relay the music festival during the last five days.