Media Release
Florida, Jan 23: The Thyagaraja and Purandara Dasa Aradhana Utsava was celebrated with great devotion and cultural fervor on Sunday, January 18, in Jupiter, Florida, bringing together music lovers and members of the Indian diaspora for an evening of classical and devotional music.
The programme commenced with an insightful introduction to the lives and contributions of saint-composers Thyagaraja and Purandara Dasa by Sreeranjani, founder president of Nandi Kannada Koota South Florida. In her sweet home, she reflected on her long-standing efforts to promote Indian classical and devotional music in the community. She shared that her journey began with a bhajan group formed in 2003 with fellow music enthusiasts, followed by the initiation of the Thyagaraja and Purandara Dasa Utsava in 2015, and the launch of Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in 2018.
The musical segment opened with a captivating concert by the guest artist Shreevalli Rai Martell, president of the American Association of Tuluva Artistes (AATA) and founder of the Global Alliance of Tulu Associations and Florida Tulu Koota. Her performance set a devotional tone for the evening. She was ably accompanied on the tabla by Vivek Somashekhar, whose rhythmic support enhanced every performance throughout the programme.
Renowned Hindustani vocalist Vidushi Suchitha Rao, a world music professor at Florida Atlantic University, and Vidushi Aparna Ravindra, rendered select keertanas with depth and grace. Several community artists, including Arush Mynampati, Sahithya Gowda, Shashidhar Vuppaluri, Shamasundar Raja, and Shashi Setty, presented soulful keertanas, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the celebration.
Instrumental performances added further richness to the event. Ojas Mynampati played soulful violin, while Sreeranjani Raja presented a keertana with veena accompaniment, earning warm appreciation from the audience.
The program concluded with a traditional Aarthi, marking a serene and spiritually uplifting end to the evening. The celebration was followed by a delicious dinner lovingly prepared and served by dedicated volunteers, highlighting the keen sense of community and service.
The Thyagaraja, Purandara Dasa Aradhana Utsava stood as a testament to the enduring legacy of India’s saint-composers and the vibrant cultural life nurtured by the Indian community in South Florida.