Annamacharya 'vardhanthi' from April 1

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI, MARCH 29. The 497th death anniversary (vardhanthi) of the saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya will be celebrated by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for a week from April 1 simultaneously at Tirupati, Tirumala, Tiruchanur and Tallapaka (birthplace of Annamacharya).

Based on the legendary reference that Annamacharya got initiated into the Vaishnavite fold with the blessings of Sri Adivan Satagopa, the founder of Sri Ahobila mutt, the inaugural function would be held in the presence of the 45th pontiff of the math, H.H. Sri Narayana Yatheendra Mahadesikan swamy, at the picturesque Narayanagiri gardens atop the Tirumala hills.

The Annamacharya Project Director, Dr. Medasani Mohan, said that around 100 artistes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu would participate in the chorus-singing programme, `Sapthagiri Sankeerthana Goshti Ganam'. The programme would be akin to the group rendition of the `Pancharathna Kritis' of saint Thyagaraja at Tiruvaiyaru on the day of his `vardhanthi'.

A unique feature of this year's programme is a special `children series' in the concert, where children of junior and sub-junior categories who have participated in the recently concluded State- level Annamacharya competitions will perform under the various heads such as vocal, instrumental, dance, drama etc.

Dr. Mohan regretted that of late, like in other subjects, the topics chosen for deeper studies by researchers into Annamacharya's works were also tending to become irrelevant, lacking sense of purpose and direction. He said that the project, in fact, had received applications from many such researchers which were rejected as they served neither the aesthetic side nor any social cause which Annamacharya espoused at many places in his works.

To curtail this trend and to coordinate the research- oriented activities between various universities and the Annamacharya project, a national seminar would be organised from April 2 to 6 at Annamacharya Kalamandiram here with the participation of delegates from various South Indian universities, he added.

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