Place: Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala
Venue : Sri Chembai Memorial Hall
Time : September
As part of the Ekadasi day, a 11-day Chembai music festival is held annually in
Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum), capital of Kerala state in September in
commemoration with the birth anniversary celebrations of late music maestro
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, an exceptionally talented Carnatic musician
from Chembai, Palakkad in Kerala.
Organised by Sri Chembai Memorial trust this week long festival attracts more
than 2000 Carnatic musicians.
A group concert mark the end of the festival on the night of
Ekadasi.
This includes five of Chembai's most favourite songs 'Vadapiganapatim' (Hamsadhwani),
'Rakshmamsaranagatam'(Natta)',Paavanaguru pavanapuradeeswara'(Hamsanandi)',
Mamava sadaajanani' (Kanada) and' Karuna Cheivan entu thamasam Krishna' (Yadukula
kamboji).
The
highlight of the festival is group singing of saint Thyagaraja’s 'Pancharatna
Krithis' on Dasami day by several leading artists.
How to get there
Air
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport located at Valiyathura is 6kms from the
city. Many international air carriers operate daily international flights to the
Middle East, Male and Sri Lanka from Thiruvananthapuram. Indian Airlines has
direct communications to Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi. Jet Air (Gulf
Air) has daily flights to Mumbai and Chennai.
Rail
Thiruvananthapuram is an important railway terminus on the southwestern coast.
The main railway station is the Central station located at Thampanoor. The
booking office is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 2pm and 2.15-8pm. Sunday
from 8am to 2pm. Railway enquiry Ph: 131.
Road
Thampanoor (opposite Railway Station - Ph: 0471-2323886) is the main bus
terminal in Thiruvananthapuram. All of the long distance buses leave from here.
The city bus terminal (Ph: 0471- 2463029) is situated at Fort from where most of
the city service originates. State and National Highways connect
Thiruvananthapuram to all major Indian cities.
