Over 100 singers perform at Indian classical music festival in Sharjah

A nine-day-long Indian classical music festival started from Wednesday in which more than 100 budding and established Indian classical music singers from the UAE are participating.

The classical music festival conducted by Ekata Sharjah, has been conducted in the same pattern of a leading classical music festival, Navarathrimandapam Sangeetholsavam, from September 24 to September 29 and prominent South Indian Classical singer, KG Jayan is among the celebrity participating in the event. It’s held for nine days at the India Trade and Exhibition Center, near Expo Center Sharjah.

During the festival, performers play the compositions of Swathi Thirunal Ravi Varma from the Royal Dynasty of Travancore, a well-known Indian musician, composer and patron of music and art. The entire classical music concert is devoted to the compositions of Swathithirunal.

The Indian classical music festival is regularly organized in the UAE and in the third years programme, many young singers will be performing between 7pm to 10pm daily.

The Indian Consul General Anurag Bhushan inaugurated the Ekata Navarathrimandapam Sangeetholsavam, which kick started with a vocal music concert by renowned classical music singer, KG Jayan. Navarathri Sangetholsavam (Navarathri Music Festival) is held every year in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in commemoration of Swathi Thirunal, a former member of the Travancore Royal Family.

“There are many events taking place in the UAE but our priority is to encourage Indian classical music among the expatriate population. We have patterned the Ekata Navarathrimandapam Sangeetholsavam in the same pattern as Swathithirunal Sangeetholsavam organized every year in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. We have got requests from about 150 potential singers, who wanted to perform during this year. We have chosen about 100 Karnatic music singers, who are selected on the basis of their track record and expertise in classical music,” said Ashok Kumar, President, Ekata Sharjah, organizer of the Indian Classical Music concert.

He said there is no entry fee and the participants get a chance to perform in front of the audience, who come purely on the basis of their interest in classical music.

Swathi Thirunal, a former King of Travancore, was an ardent supporter of art and culture.

As a patron of music and art, he encouraged among others, Erayinman Thampi, a famous musician and a classical music concert has been organized every year to encourage Indian classical music as well as to commemorate the patron of music and arts.

His court attracted several musicians, dancers and instrument players. 

A musician himself, the member of Travancore dynasty was a keen follower and patron of Indian classical dance, especially Hindustani and Karanatak, and even now his name is synonymous with classical music, added Sajith Kumar, PK, the Chief Executive Officer of a leading finance company in the UAE, who is a regular patron and participant in the Ekata Sangeetholsavam. Kumar, a Mridangam specialist (drummer), has been regularly performing in the music festival in Sharjah.

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