Fri Nov 22 16:42:07 UTC 2024: ## Chennai Celebrates Carnatic Music at Bhavan’s Annual Margazhi Festival
**CHENNAI, November 22, 2024** – The annual Margazhi Music Festival, a cornerstone of Chennai’s cultural calendar, kicked off Friday with Governor R.N. Ravi praising Carnatic music’s international acclaim and spiritual essence. The festival, hosted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Chennai Kendra, is a month-long celebration featuring over 145 performances by 750 artists across various venues in the city.
Speaking at the inaugural event, Governor Ravi highlighted the festival’s significance as a celebration of culture and core values, emphasizing the deeply rooted bhakti (devotion) within Carnatic music. N. Ravi, Chairman of Bhavan’s Chennai Kendra, reinforced the city’s inseparable connection with music, noting UNESCO’s recognition of Chennai as a creative centre for music. He emphasized the Kendra’s commitment to promoting music and classical art forms.
The event also saw the release of “Katha Kalashebha,” a new book by musicologist Pramila Gurumoorthy. Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, Vice-Chairman of Bhavan’s Chennai Kendra, announced the festival’s collaboration with the South Zone Cultural Centre and its continuation until January 15, 2025. The festival opened with a discourse by Harikatha exponent Visaka Hari. The festival promises a rich tapestry of Carnatic music performances throughout the season.
First Piper 