Thanjavur's bounty can surprise you. The annual dance festival on the occasion of Sivaratri is now called the Brahanatyanjali. Its hosts have done a fairly food job of advertising it locally. Its pays off - lots of tourists gather at the Brihadeeswarar Temple every evening for the dance performances.

Elsewhere, another unique Fest has just been launched. The Festival of Sacred Music in Thiruvaiyaru, on the Cauvery.

A Fest put together by the Chennai-based Prakriti Foundation led by businessperson and arts promoter Ranvir Shah, Marubu Foundation based in Thilasthanam, Thiruvaiyaru's neighbour run by Rama Kausalya, former Principal of the local Music College, and INTACH's Thanjavur chapter.

Ranvir wanted to host three kutcheris at three different and unique venues in the town. So on Day One (Feb.26), Bombay Jayashri's performs at the Sri Panchanatheeswarar Temple, sitting on a stage surrounded by glowing earthen lamps.

We head to Thiruvaiyaru on Day Two. With us are a group of diverse writers from Bangalore, Delhi and Chennai. We head to the Pushya Mahal Ghat, a sprawling space leading off from the main road and on the river bank.

A local leader has spent lots of money to renovate and maintain this space where people from all over perform the rites to remember the dead.

The river does not run deep nowadays. It did in November last year when the rains were bountiful and the water in the canal off Thilaisthanam village could be from the roadside.

In the spacious yard dominated by the twin neem and peepul tree, Jayanthi Kumaresh prepares for her veena concert. The place is lit up, the sound system, though locally sourced, is tuned well and the arrangement for the rasikas spic.

Ranvir had carted spot lights and fabric from his production centres to help designer Pravin and his team brighten up the place and give it some character.

Jayanthi says, after the 90-minute concert that the effort to make such a space suitable for a kutcheri has to be appreciated. "This is unique," she adds.

About 200 people attend this concert. Kausalya and her local team created the buzz and the Fest was a bonus for the students who study at the local music college. Prakriti's V. R. Devika and Meera lend a hand.

The music college, located on a campus that is over 100 years old, the erstwhile Rajah's College and part of a larger educational institution was the venue for the third and final concert of the Fest - by the Sikkil Sisters. And a bonus came in the form of Sikkil Mala Chandrasekar who accompanied the two well known flutists on their trip from Chennai. It is indeed amazing how these very senior musicians have the spirit in them to undertake such journeys.

Bathed in the light of dozens of brass and earthen lamps and seated in teak chairs, the trio create a musical chamber without a roof. As night fell, the half moon hung more or less above the concert stage and when it was over the film of dew has enveloped the rasikas, as did the music.

Ranvir has a dream and a plan for this Fest. It is about reviving the best of Thiruvaiyaru - its arts and music, its landscape and the local life.

Ranvir also wants to get simple things done - get people to keep the place neat and clean, help local artisans find more outlets to increase revenues and get local musicians to perform more often . . .the town can also become a destination for tourists, for people who once hailed from this area to come by more often and for artistes to find their own space.

Kausalya has made a start with her Marubu Foundation. A traditional house, now restored in her native village is open to local kids who learn music, thevarams and the local crafts. A few foreign artistes have camped here to study dance.

The first Fest was a sincere attempt. Ranvir says he would like to schedule it when the Cauvery is full and majestic. In August perhaps? You cannot freeze this in times of climate change.

The launch was wonderful.