Sat Dec 21 14:44:16 UTC 2024: ## Tiruchi’s Margazhi Manghala Utsavam Celebrates Music and Dance
**Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, December 21, 2024** – The sixth annual Margazhi Manghala Utsavam, a three-day festival of Carnatic music and classical dance, concluded its run in Tiruchi on Sunday. The festival, hosted by the Manghalam Group, showcased a diverse range of performances, attracting large audiences and highlighting both established and emerging talent.
The festival opened Friday with performances by renowned nadaswaram exponents, a harikatha recital, and a Carnatic band performance. Saturday’s highlight was “Navavidha Bhakti,” a Bharatanatyam recital by Sri Priyalaya Arts Academy, depicting the nine forms of devotion. Mentorship by Supriya Ravikumar helped the dancers create a compelling performance praised for its skillful storytelling. Other Saturday performances included a dance tribute to actor Sivaji Ganesan and presentations by various dance groups. The festival concluded Sunday with a vocal concert by the Trichur Brothers.
Prabhu Venkatramani of the Manghalam Group expressed satisfaction with the enthusiastic response from both artists and the public, noting the addition of daytime slots to accommodate the high demand.
Simultaneously, the annual Tamil drama festival at Rasika Ranjana Sabha continued to draw crowds, with over 150 attendees per show. Organizers highlighted the inclusion of contemporary plays from Chennai, attracting family audiences. Saturday’s performance, “Kaatchi Pizhaigalo,” focused on a visually impaired person’s journey, while Sunday’s featured “Ambi Mama,” a play about mismatched horoscopes. The festival concludes December 25th with “Big Boss,” a play examining higher education. All performances at both festivals offered free admission.
First Piper 