As an eager audience gathered at the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore on Tueday evening, a concert by Bombay Jayashri marked the start of the 11-day Panguni Peruvizha and Vedaiyaatri Music and Dance Festival.

The festival was inaugurated by N. Murali, co-chairman, Kasturi & Sons Limited, and P.S. Sachu, member secretary, Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram.

Calling the atmosphere “uplifting”, Mr. Murali lauded the festival for bringing back performances into the temples.

Ms. Sachu recalled how Mylapore and the temple, which she said was a hub of literature, dance and drama, was an integral part of her life as she had often visited the temple and the tank during her childhood. The music and dance festival is slated to conclude on March 28 with a performance by Sudha Raghunathan.

Accompanying Bombay Jayashri on Tuesday were Embar Kannan on the violin, J. Vaidyanathan on the mridangam, and Raja Ganesh on the kanjira.

The festival will host performances by eminent artistes and dance troupes including T.M. Krishna, N. Vijay Siva, P. Unnikrishnan, Ranjani and Gayatri, Priya Sisters, Jayashree Vaidyanathan, Abhinaya Natyalaya, Sri Devi Nrithyalaya, and Sanjay Subrahmanyan. The programme, sponsored by Preetha Reddy and Vijaykumar Reddy, is open to all.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – March 19th, 2014