January 26, 1950 is remembered by Indians all over as the day India became a republic.
This year Jan 26, 2008 coincidentally marked Bahula Panchami day celebrated by carnatic rasikas all over paying tribute to the Bard of Thiruvaiyaaru, Saint Thyagarajar, indubitably the most versatile and prolific of Indian composers.
A cold, Canadian winter, the nippy wind bracing against one’s ears, did not deter the enthusisasm of music lovers in the Greater Toronto Area who arrived en masse at the Datta Yoga Centre in Brampton to celebrate Thyagarajah Aradhanai on this Bahula Panchami day.
Superbly organized by Toronto’s S. Ganapathy (who has been regularly conducting the Thyagaraja utsavam with dedication over the past several years) the festival commenced with gusto and pomp with a Palaku- Nadaswaram procession following initial puja offering to Lord Rama. It was heartwarming to see the menfolk galvanized in energy, taking turns in carrying the utsava murthy as the nadhaswaram-thavil combination captured the musical mood of the occasion.
The women in colorful saris, men in jibbas and children in pavadais and churidar-kurtas gradually settling in their seats amidst the spiritual ambience of the Datta Yoga center, provided a perfect backdrop for the start of a wonderful event.
The festivities commenced with an invocation song in the form of a 'virutham' composed by N. Sivakumar from College Station, Texas and sung in pleasing Hindolam by carnatic vocalist Radhika Anand.
Following this, was the rendering of the ghana raga Pancharatna kritis of Thyagarajar. About 40-50 people participated to include music teachers, and students accompanied by violin and percussion artistes. The emotion packed singing in unision with devotional fervour provided, as always an inner calm and strength that is invigorating.
An instrumental trio featuring veena, venu and violin in Malayamarathum was well presented by talented youngsters.
A special theme highlighting this event was Prahaladha Bhakthi Vijayam, one of the first and longest operas composed by Thyagaraja. Some of the krithis from this opera that were rendered included Vandanamu in the raga Sahana, Eti Janmamidha, raga Varali, Anandamananda in the raga Bhairavi, Raa Raamayintidiga in Asaveri and Sriramajayarama among several others. The triumph of Prahalada’s devotion and bhakthi was poignantly portrayed by many a talented youngster. There were about 45 participants from age group 10 years and upward who came forth spontaneously, paying homage to this musician-composer par excellence; indeed the spirit of Thiruvaiyaaru was clearly evident in the snow clad setting of Toronto that cold, January day.
In accordance with Thyagaraja’s operatic format, the opening and the closing krithis were presented in an auspicious raga, namely, Sourashtram.
