Languages Used
In Carnatic music, all the South Indian languages have
been used prolifically, in addition to the ancient classical
Indian language, Sanskrit. The Telugu language has been
especially widely used in the compositions. There is
also a wide repertoire in Tamil and Kannada, and a smaller
range in Malayalam. Occasionally, songs in more northern
languages like Marathi, Hindi and Braj Bhasha (language)
have been incorporated into Carnatic music. This adds
to the rich variety of a ]
Carnatic music performance.
Dress Code
The dress code adopted by the Carnatic music performers
is typically the traditional South Indian type. The
male singers usually wear a Dhoti and Kurta. Generally,
the attire is made of cotton or silk, but sometimes,
the format has been maintained with slight innovations.
The female singers are generally, dressed in saris,
with typical South Indian jewellery to go with the dress.
The women singers also typically wear flowers in their
hair. This dress code has been maintained over several
years.
Place Of Performance
In olden days, Carnatic music was performed in temples.
That culture has been carried on to this day. Apart
from this, performances are held in Sabhas, which are
organisations that preserve this traditional art through
a professional set up.
Occasions
It is customary for most of the South Indian temples
and other organisations to have Carnatic music concerts
during the major Hindu festivals. Apart from this, it
is a regular practice to have the traditional wind instrument
of South India, Nagaswaram in temples (for daily temple
processions, apart from festival time special prayers).
Carnatic music concerts are also performed in marriages
and other grand Hindu rituals.
Today, Carnatic music also has a global presence. Many
musicians are performing internationally and there is
a rapid cultural growth in various foreign countries,
including USA, Canada, France, Germany, U.K., South
Africa, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and China (mainly
Hong Kong).
South Indians abroad have taken the initiative to popularize
this traditional art form. During the last two decades,
music has been taught, practiced and performed in these
countries by Indians settled there. This has also induced
several foreigners to learn and perform this traditional
art form, in addition to writing about it.
History of the December Season
The Madras (Chennai) Music & Dance Season celebrated
during the latter half of December & early part
of January is a cultural extravaganza that has no parallel
anywhere in the world.
The Margazhi festival was started way back in 1927,
as an event to commemorate with the founding of Madras
Music Academy in the month of December. The Madras Music
Academy was founded in December 1927 as the outcome
of an All-India music conference held during the Madras
session of the Indian National Congress. The Academy
started conducting a music festival in a small way every
December and with the subsequent growth of the Academy,
to gigantic proportions.
This event was widely accepted & patronized by
the public at large, due to various reasons, prominent
among which are possibly, that it is a cool time in
the otherwise hot & sultry city and secondly it
is holiday time. This culture was adopted by various
other sabhas that hold art festivals in different parts
of the city.
A unique feature of this art festival is the fact that
up & coming artistes also get a chance to exhibit
their talents to this city of music & dance lovers
at large along with the well-established artistes. Art
lovers from various parts of the world visit the city
during this season and in nearly all the sabhas, there
is always a rush for tickets.
- Fifty-three organizations conducted 60 festivals
in a period of 117 days.
- They presented a total of 1604 music & dance
performances in this period.
- The total included 134 music concerts & 280
dance performances.
Possibly nowhere else in the world so many organizations
conduct so many festivals offering so many music &
dance performances in so short a period of time.
Thyagaraja Aradhana
The contribution of Saint Thyagaraja, one of the Trinities
of Carnatic music, has been immense not only through
his compositions but also through his Sishya Parampara,
who have preserved and enriched the true tradition of
classical music.
Saint Thyagaraja is seen as an Avatharapurusha, who
came to this world to savour the souls that suffer in
this world. In fact, he is considered an avathara of
Saint Valmiki. Thyagaraja's compositions are rich in
devotional and philosophical content. They are noted
for their superior structure, superb handling of ragalakshanas
and apt choice of raga and words. The world of Carnatic
music owes a lot to Saint Thyagaraja for the treasure
that he is bestowed on them.
As a mark of respect and thanksgiving to the saint,
Carnatic musicians from all over the globe get together
and pay their reverence to the Saint by singing the
Pancharatna kritis on the Pushya Bahula Panchami (the
day the saint attained Samadhi) day. Vocalists and instrumentalists
of various banis come to Thiruvaiyaru on the banks of
the river Cauvery and take part in the aradhana festival,
which is celebrated every year. As is the case with
many great men, Thyagaraja's greatness came to be known
only after his demise. Though he composed a lot and
taught many students, his compositions spread wide only
after his days. After Thyagaraja's demise, his sishyas
performed pooja at his Samadhi. But the Samadhi could
not be maintained properly due to poor patronage. It
was Bangalore Nagarathnammal, a musician and staunch
devotee of Thyagaraja, who dedicated her self &
wealth to renovate and maintain the Samadhi. The credit
for celebrating the Aradhana at the Saint's Samadhi
itself goes to her.
Every year, coinciding with the thidhi of the saints’
demise, there is weeklong festival, when musicians pay
their homage to the Saint by singing his compositions.
On the Aradhana Day the Pancharatna (five gems) kritis
are rendered in unison by all the artistes, in the ragas
Nattai, Gowlai, Arabhi, Varali and Sri. All the five
are Ghana ragas. On the Pushya Bahula Panchami day,
the musicians go on an Unchavrithi (walking down the
streets singing songs & collecting rice from people),
for Tyagaraja had followed this during his lifetime.
After this, they go to the Samadhi and perform before
the idol of the Saint. The nadhaswaram artistes start
off the festival - followed by veena, venu (flute) -
and violin. After this, all artistes (vocalists &
instrumentalists) perform in unison. They start with
Sree Ganapathini in Sourashtram & Guruleka Etuvanti
in Gowri Manohari followed by the Pancharatna kritis.
Simultaneously, abhishekam is performed to the Saint's
idol. At the conclusion of the krithis, mahaarthi is
performed to the Saint's idol.
Thyagaraja has left behind the immense wealth of his
compositions and it is the duty of every musician and
rasikas to pay their homage to the great Saint by rendering
his compositions with bhava with an understanding of
the meaning of the compositions.
MUSIC OF SOUTH INDIA
Day 01 ARRIVE CHENNAI
Arrive Chennai by International flight. Meeting on arrival
and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Chennai.
Day 02 IN CHENNAI
Chennai. The Capital city of Tamil Nadu state, Chennai
is India’s Southern Gateway city and one of the
biggest centres of trade, and communications.
Afternoon city tour of Chennai visiting the Fort St.
George, San Thome’s church, Parthasarathy temple
& Marina Beach. Later attend the Music festival.
Overnight in Chennai.
Day 03 IN CHENNAI
Full day attend the various music festivals. Overnight
in Chennai.
Day 04 CHENNAI/KANCHEEPURAM/MAHABALIPURAM
Leave Chennai for Mahabalipuram enroute visiting Kancheepuram
to see the Ekambareshwar and Kailasanatha Temples. On
arrival check-in at the hotel
Mahabalipuram – a quite seaside resort with a
unique and glorious 7th century Shore Temple and some
of the most beautiful rock-cut caves in the world. Evening:
Attend the Music & Dance festival
Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Day 05 IN MAHABALIPURAM
PM: Visit the Krishna, Varaha and Mahishasura Mardhini
Mandapas besides the famous stone bas-relief, Arjuna’s
Penance. Later attend the Music & Dance festival.
Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Day 06 MAHABALIPURAM/PONDICHERRY
Leave Mahabalipuram for Pondicherry (133 kms/3 hrs).
On arrival check-in at the hotel
PM: Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry Musuem,
Matrimandir at Auroville, the Anglo-French Textiles
showroom, Manakula Vinayagar Koil, Ashram's handmade
paper factory, the Botanical Gardens and the Sacred
Heart of Jesus Church. Overnight in Pondicherry.
Day 07 PONDICHERRY/TANJORE
(245 kms/8 hrs including the visit). Leave Pondicherry
for Tanjore visiting Chidambaram & Gangaikondacholapuram
enroute. On arrival check-in at the hotel
Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and
the Mahrattas. Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan-an
asura (giant), who according to local legend devastated
the neighbourhood and was killed by Sri Anandavalli
Amman and Vishnu, Sri Neelamegapperumal. Tanjan's last
request that the city might be named after him was granted.
Thanjavur was at height of its glory during Rajaraja
Cholan. Let us take Thanjavur back to its past glory
in the information age. Thanjavur is still the canter
of all the classical arts and music. It has produced
many classical musicians and bharathanatyam dancers
and is also well known for its unique painting style
called Tanjore Painting and Thavil, a percussion instrument.
Overnight in Tanjore.
Day 08 IN TANJORE
AM: Visit the Brihadeswarar Temple. The great Temple
of Tanjore (Thanjavur) was built between 1003 and 1010
in the reign of the great King Rajaraja, founder of
the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of South
India and the neighbouring islands. Surrounded by two
rectangular enclosures, the Brihadisvar (built from
blocks of granite and, in part, from bricks) is crowned
with a pyramidal 13-storey tower, the vimana, standing
61 m high and topped with a bulb-shaped monolith. The
walls of the temple are covered with rich sculptural
decoration. PM: Visit Thiruvayyaru (13 kms) to witness
the Thyagaraja festival
Overnight in Tanjore.
Day 09 TANJORE/MADURAI
Leave Tanjore for Madurai (182 kms/4 ½ hrs).
On arrival check-in at the hotel
Madurai - is Tamil Nadu's most happening cultural arena.
Today, Madurai is the thriving pulse of Tamil Nadu industrial
growth. Truly, we believe that the Gods are here to
stay! Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai
is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu, a southern
state in India. Madurai is more than 2,500 years old
and has a rich cultural heritage and history. Madurai
was an important cultural and commercial centre even
as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city for
the great Pandya kings.
Afternoon city tour of Madurai visiting the great Meenakshi
Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its
towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding
country side). Visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace –
A gracious building in the Indo Saracenic style, famous
for the Stuccowork on its domes and arches. Visit Alagar
Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock Temple.
Evening: Attend night ceremony at Meenakshi temple.
Overnight in Madurai.
Day 10 IN MADURAI
AM: Visit Thiruparankundram: Dating back to 2nd century
B.C., and located 10 kms. South of Madurai, it is one
of the ‘Aarupadaiveedu’, the 6 Muruga temples
in the state. It is a cave temple where Muruga married
Deivayaanai, after slaying the demon. There are separate
shrines in a line for Shiva, Vishnu, Durga and Vinayaka.
A hillock is attached to the temple, the rock from which
the temple is said to have been built. Overnight in
Madurai.
Day 11 MADURAI/PERIYAR
Leave Madurai for Periyar (134 kms/ 4 ½ hrs approx).
On arrival check-in at the hotel
Thekkady where rolling hills, tea & Cardamom plantations
welcome you. It is one of the largest wildlife reserves
in India, it is more popular as a tiger reserve.
Afternoon take a boat ride on the splendid Periyar lake
which is the best way to experience the sanctuary. The
greatest attraction here is the herds of wild elephants
that come down to the lake to frolic in the water. Tiger,
Sambhar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Leopard, Malabar flying
Squirrel, stripe necked Mongoose & so on can be
spotted in the forest. Kumily, an important spice trade
centre lies in the periphery of the sanctuary. Overnight
in Periyar.
Day 12 PERIYAR/KUMARAKOM
AM: Visit the Park by boat. Leave Periyar for Kumarakom
(124 kms/3 hrs approx)
On arrival check-in at the hotel.
Kumarakom, a unique backwater destination situated on
the banks of the Vemband Lake, which is considered the
gateway to the backwaters of Kuttanad. The Kumakom Bird
Sanctuary is a favourite haunt of migratory birds from
across the world, which makes it a renowned bird watching
centre.
Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 13 IN KUMARAKOM
Day free at leisure. Overnight in Kumarakom
Day 14 KUMARAKOM/ALLEPPEY/COCHIN
Transfer to boat jetty to take a backwater cruise to
Alleppey. Disembark at Alleppey and drive to Cochin
(60 kms/1 ½ hrs approx). On arrival check-in
at the hotel. PM: City tour of Cochin. Evening: Witness
Kathakali Dance show. Overnight in Cochin.
Day 15 COCHIN/MUMBAI
Day free till departure. Later transfer to airport to
board flight to Mumbai. Meeting on arrival and transfer
to hotel for wash & change and Dinner. After dinner
transfer to International airport to board onward flight
Day 16 DEPART MUMBAI
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