Chembai music fest enthralls people

The fifteen-day Chembai music festival, which began in Guruvayoor, is attracting people from far and wide. This music festival is in prelude to the famed Guruvayoor Ekadasi Mahotsavam.

As many as 3,000 artists are participating in one of the memorable annual music festivals of the State.

The music recitals are organised in two pandals, which are erected near the permanent stage Melpathur auditorium, adjacent to the temple.

The famous pancharatna keerthanalapanam will take place on the Dasami day of the Chembai music festival. Besides, five keerthanas of Thyagaraja Bhagavathar would be recited by hundreds of noted carnatic music exponents and this is known as the famous Pancharatna keerthanalapanam.

Of the 15-day long Chembai music festival, maximum music lovers take part in this programme.

The music festival, which starts daily by early morning, will conclude only late night and the accompanying organs like Mridangam and Violin are provided to the artists by the Devaswom.

The renowned musician late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar had started this music festival nine decades ago as part of the Guruvayoor Ekadasi and the Devaswom Board named it Chembai Music Festival after his death.

On the Ekadasi day at midnight the music festival draws to a close after reciting Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar’s favourite songs.