Come May, citizens of Hyderabad will be treated with a gala event ‘Mangala Vadya Sammelanam’ at Lal Bahadur Stadium here.

About 3,500 artists from across the country and also from countries like Singapore, Sri Lanka and Canada will perform various ‘keerthanas’ and compositions and enthral the audience on May 6. The event is being organised by Silicon Andhra in association with the Department of Culture. The artistes will perform with instruments like ‘shehnai’, ‘Nadaswaram’, saxophone and traditional drums.

‘Nadaswaram’ accompanied by ‘Mangala Vadyalu’ holds a special place in the Indian tradition and no marriage or function is complete without the performance of these artists, but of late they are losing their patronage and artistes are left high and dry,” founder-chairman, Silicon Andhra, Anand Kuchibhotla said at a press conference here on Thursday.

Unlike classical music, the patronage for ‘mangala vadyam’ is dwindling and there is a need to revive these arts. The two-day event is being organised to give a fillip to these artistes and will address various issues faced by them, he said. The event will be inaugurated by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan along with his Tamil Nadu counterpart K. Rosaiah on May 5.

Procession

The first day will be set apart exclusively for artistes and they will participate in team wise performances and discussions. Commemorating the 604 birth anniversary of Annamacharya on May 6, artistes will takeout a procession from Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams Temple at Himayatnagar to L.B. Stadium at 6 a.m. and in the evening there will be a live performance by all artistes together at Lal Bahadur Stadium, Mr. Anand Kuchibhotla explained.

A 34,000 sq. ft. stage will be built to accommodate the artistes and anyone can attend the performance, he said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad, April 27th, 2012