There are nearly 35 Ramothsava banners in Bengaluru heralding the music season, starting with the distribution of\u00a0kosambri and paanaka\u00a0<\/i>to beat the heat wave that seems to be a part of this Ramanavami celebrations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, what sets apart the Sree Ramaseva Mandali\u00a0celebrations at Fort High School grounds in Chamarajpet? SN Varadaraj, son of founder SV Narayanaswmay Rao\u00a0(known as SVN Rao), says, in many places of Karnataka, especially Mysore, Ramanavami was celebrated with music, decorations and food. In 1939, his father SVN Rao,\u00a0established this mandali for the purpose of integrating different celebratory practices.<\/p>\n

The initial three-day celebrations that marked the founders\u2019 love for music is now in its 87^{th<\/sup>\u00a0year. \u201cThe most respected names in classical\u00a0music from all over India have graced this temple of music as C Rajagopalachari termed it, as even the erstwhile Mysore Royals were patrons of the mandali,\u201d says Vardaraj. <\/p>\n}

\u201cThis year, we will have a total of 56 concerts from April 6 to May 2, apart from Ramayana discourses. The 27-day offering will see as many as 225 artistes gracing the mandali platform.\u201d Vardaraj adds the event will play out in a 40,000 squarefoot\u00a0waterproof pandal <\/i>with 6,000 seats and LED\u00a0screens.<\/p>\n

Goodwill and grandeur<\/h4>\n

Varadaraj recalls the initial years when SVN Rao would book star performers of the time over the telephone, offering them \u20b920 as an advance. \u201cNeither Chembai nor his student, Yesudas, accepted a paisa; vocalist Balamurali Krishna was given \u20b912 for his concerts; sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan considered his performance, a \u2018service to the Lord\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n

Violin\u00a0Chowdiah and MS Subbulakshmi would instantly donate whatever they received during Ramanavami,\u00a0while\u00a0Mandolin Shrinivas would humbly accept only divine blessings, Varadaraj says. \u201cTop names from Karnataka such as RK Srikantan and Veena Doreswamy Iyengar as well as mridangist Umayalapuram Sivaraman from Chennai, were given \u20b9500 for their concerts.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Shahid Pervez Khan
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\n Special Arrangement\n <\/p>\n

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Musical impetus<\/h4>\n

Buoyed by the encouragement and passion of SVN Rao and ghatam exponent KS Manjunath, several\u00a0Ramaseva samitis and mandalis began to take shape in the city.\u00a0Nearly 120 years ago, compounder Subba Rao started the Rama Bhaktha Sabha and SVN Rao\u00a0began his Mandali\u00a0in Chamarajpet\u00a0in 1939. Soon, every area in the city echoed\u00a0with music during Ramanavami, and it eventually came to be known as \u2018Bangalore\u2019s Music Season\u2019.<\/p>\n

In the early-1940s, Narayanaswamy was introduced to violin legend T Chowdiah and flute Mahalingam, both of whom developed an instant affection for the mandali and its purpose. Their strategy to help the Ramaseva Mandali banner flourish was simple \u2014 get stars to perform with the bonus that Chowdiah would accompany them on his violin.<\/p>\n

Gradually, the mandali\u2019s fame grew and connoisseurs would eagerly wait for programme listings to make their bookings a month in advance. \u201cToday, we have a high digital reach. After we announced the programme on our Facebook page this year, we had over 4.1 million clicks,\u201d says Abhijith Varadaraj, who helps his father SN Varadaraj, with the running of the mandali.<\/p>\n

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Jayanthi Kumaresh
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\n K_V_SRINIVASAN\n <\/p>\n

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Rewards and recognition<\/h4>\n

Musical Ramothsava celebrations are a unique feature of Karnataka, says vocalist Vidyabhushana, who will be receiving\u00a0the SVN Rao Global Award for Music this year. A close associate of the family, he says, \u201cAs a violinist himself,\u00a0Rao\u00a0understood what it took for musicians\u00a0to be recognised. His\u00a0reason for inviting star musicians was not to set an affluent ambience, but to help performers and rasikas\u00a0<\/i>understand the\u00a0values associated in\u00a0opening\u00a0up\u00a0a cultural\u00a0identity for pre-Independent India.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is one season that democratises classical music, it is Ramanavami, as several mandalis and samitis work towards an inclusive and comprehensive offering for one and all,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Arizona-based sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez will be stepping into the mandali as a first timer to accept the Special SVN Rao Global Award for Music in Hindustani.. \u201cThis is where stalwarts such as Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Amjad Ali Khan have been honoured. I consider it more than a blessing to receive the award and play for Bengaluru audiences,\u201d says Ustad Shahid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Rama Gana Kalacharya Award of the Mandali will be bestowed on veena exponent Jayanthi Kumaresh this year. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ramanavami melodies at Fort High School, remain a part of growing up for many, much like the Kadalekai Parishe, which is an intrinsic part of Bengaluru culture,\u201d says Jayanthi, daughter of violinist Lalgudi Rajalakshmi. \u201cI have played the tambura for my uncle violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman and have accompanied my mother on stage at the mandali as a junior artiste. The scent of jasmine garlands offered after the concert still lingers in my memory.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Vocalist Vidyabhushana
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\n SREENIVASA MURTHY V\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cAs my husband and I enter these portals for our \u2018Strings Attached\u2019 concert, we hope to create good memories for younger connoisseurs attending this devotional platform,\u201d adds the musician, who is married to violinist Kumaresh.<\/p>\n

Trichur Brothers, Srikrishna Mohan and Ramkumar Mohan, will be conferred with the Mysore Asthana Vidwan Chidambara Ganapatigal Award for music excellence, which will be followed by their concert.<\/p>\n

For programme details, log on to ramamavami.org, season tickets on ramanavamitickets.com<\/i><\/p>\n

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Mandali specials for 2025<\/b><\/h5>\n

* As this year marks the 250th\u00a0birth centenary of saint composer Muthuswamy Dikshitar, all artistes will be taking up at least one of Dikshitar\u2019s compositions<\/p>\n

* Embracing tradition with a modern twist is Carnatic Adda, a seven-member group, which will present Sangeeta Seva on Hanumad Jayanthi on April 12<\/p>\n

* Vedic scholar and orator Dushyanth Sridhar will present his Harikatha discourse on \u2018Sakala Grahabala Neene\u2019\u00a0on April 15.<\/p>\n

* Parampara jugalbandi by slide guitarists Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Salil Bhatt alongside violinists Mysore Manjunath and Sumanth Manjunath is scheduled for April 19<\/p>\n

* Bangalore Brothers Hariharan and Ashok will be accompanied on the mridanga by doyen Umayalapuram K Sivaraman on April 22.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published – April 08, 2025 01:38 pm IST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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