Tiruvarur Sri Thyagaraja Temple is one of the oldest Sivakshetra in Tamil Nadu and for some years now, the annual Sivaratri-based dance festival has been held in the temple.

Thanjavur-based arts organiser Muthukumar and art critic Nandini Ramani were guests of honour.

The Natyanjali Fest was launched many years ago with a performance of the Dhananjayans' 'Bharatakalanjali' students and this year, guru Dhananjayan performed an item along with his students.

This year, the 12th Natyanjali Festival was inaugurated by guru V. P. Dhananjayan and the event was presided by the local district Collector M. Chandrasekar,

Archana, Jyostsna and Divya Devaguptappu came all the way from California to participate in this festival.

Many rasikas from this temple town attended the recitals on all evenings. The gurus and artistes who performed included Sudha Mani, Anitha Guha, Zakir Hussain, Meera Nandha and Nandhini Goshal.