THANJAVUR: Musicians from across the country descended on Tiruvaiyaru in the district on Tuesday to pay homage to Saint Thiyagaraja, one among those regarded the trinity of Carnatic music, by rendering the ‘pancharatna kritis’ -- the five gems of Thiyagaraja’s compositions -- as an ensemble.
The main function of the 177th annual aradhana festival, ‘aradhanai’ commemorating the saint’s death anniversary commenced with the ‘unchavrithi’ bhajan from Tirumanjana Veedhi in Tiruvaiyaru where the saint composer lived. The musicians carried the decorated idol of Thiyagaraja to the ashramam complex.
As special ablutions were performed on the idol at the samadhi, musicians commenced rendering of the ‘pancharatna kritis’. Flautists led by Prabacham S Balachandran rendered the ‘chetulara’ keerthanai (song) of Thiyagaraja as a prelude to the singing of ‘gana raga pancharatna kritis’. Following this, the musicians rendered the ‘pancharatna kritis’. In the evening the idol was taken out in procession in the streets of Tiruvaiyaru amid ‘mallari’ music. The five-day festival drew to a close with ‘anjaneya utsavam’ the same night.