Sanjay Subramaniam at Swati Sangeethotsavam 2010 at Kuthiramalika

The Swati Sangeethotsavam 2010 got off to a fine start at the Kuthiramalika palace grounds in Trivandrum today. (6th Jan 2010). According to Prince Aswathi Rama Varma, the New Year for the Music Lovers of Trivandrum starts on 6th January with the Sangeethotsavam.

From Sangeethotsavam2010

Nishagandhi Festival 2010

The Nishagandhi Festival at the Open air auditorium in the Kanakakunnu Palace complex, will be inaugurated on Wednesday, 20th January. This year's programme includes, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Bharathanatyam (by Alarmel Valli), Hindustani Jugalbandhi (Ustan Dilshad Khan and Begum Parveen Sultana) and Carnatic Percussion ensemble. The programme arranged by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala concludes on 26th January.

Some images from last year's Nishagandhi Festival can be seen by clicking here.

From Nishagandhi2009

Jugalbandhi

The Vyalopilli Samskrithi Bhavan in Nanthancode provides varied fare every month. The January programmes started with a Jugalbandhi - Maya Varma on Veena and Murali Menon on Sitar.

Hanuman in Lanka, Kathakali

The kathakali festival of Soorya continues at the Swathi Thirunal Music College. The above image shows the confrontation between Ravana and Hanuman after his visit to Ashoka vanam and before Lanka dahanam. The percussion ensemble of Maddalam, Chenda etc are seen in the background.

The Trivandrum Flower Show

The Trivandrum Flower show is on as in every year at the observatory hills opposite Kanakakunnu Palace. If you want to beat the crowd, the best time is at 10 a.m when it opens.

4008 Ganeshas

Artist, Manilal exhibited his canvas (20x15) depicting 4000 images of the Hindu God Ganesha, Each image is unique. Manilal says he hopes to enter the Guiness Book of Records with this feat. On show at Sree Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Thycaud.More details appeared in The Hindu :http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/12/10/stories/2009121050750300.htm

See also Ganapati idols in Trivandrum:  http://picasaweb.google.com/vihar7/Ganesha2009#

Mohiniyattam

The Soorya cultural festival continues at Sree Swathi Thirunal Music College. On Thursday, it was Mohini attam by Kapila, an accomplished young danseuse. Originally, Gopika Verma was slated for this day, but this young dancer did not disppoint.