Swathi Sangeethotsavam (Swathi Music Festival) is a ten-day festival of music celebrating the compositions of Maharaja
Swathi Thirunal
( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാള് രാമവർമ്മ) (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 4 ...
. The festival is held from 4 to 13 January every year at
Kuthira Malika
Kuthiramalika () is a palace built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma on the south-eastern side of Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Etymology
The palace gets its name from the 122 horses that are carved into the wooden wall brackets that s ...
,
Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its List of renamed Indian cities and states, former name Trivandrum (), is the Capital city, capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as ...
, where the Maharaja is believed to have composed many of his works. The festival is a tribute to Swathi Tirunal and is exclusively dedicated to his compositions.
The concerts are not ticketed. The festival is conducted by Rama Varma Maharaja of Travancore Trust under the helm of
Prince Rama Varma
Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma (born 13 August 1968), known colloquially as Prince Rama Varma, is an Indian classical musician and a member of the erstwhile Royal Family of Travancore. He is a Carnatic vocalist as well as an exponent of the Sara ...
.
History
The Government of Kerala used to conduct the festival in Kuthiramalika in memory of
Swathi Thirunal
( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാള് രാമവർമ്മ) (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 4 ...
. In the late 90s, after they decided to hold it in different places all over Kerala and discontinued the festival at Kuthiramalika, Rama Varma Maharaja took the initiative to continue the annual festival under the Travancore Trust.
The festival is organized by
Prince Rama Varma
Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma (born 13 August 1968), known colloquially as Prince Rama Varma, is an Indian classical musician and a member of the erstwhile Royal Family of Travancore. He is a Carnatic vocalist as well as an exponent of the Sara ...
, Carnatic musician and direct descendant of Swathi Tirunal.
List of events
See also
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List of Indian classical music festivals
The following is an incomplete list of Indian classical music festivals, which encapsulates music festivals focused on Indian classical music. The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in t ...
*
Chembai Sangeetholsavam
Chembai Sangeetholsavam is an annual Carnatic music festival held in Guruvayur by the Guruvayur Devaswom (similar to the Thyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru) in memory of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, one of the titans of Carnatic classical mu ...
*
Kuthira Malika
Kuthiramalika () is a palace built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma on the south-eastern side of Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Etymology
The palace gets its name from the 122 horses that are carved into the wooden wall brackets that s ...
*
Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram
Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram is the highest honour for musicians instituted by the Kerala State Government. It's named after Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore (തിരുവിതാംകൂര്), in India.The award ca ...
References
External links
*{{Commons category-inline
Music festivals established in 2000
Classical music festivals in India
Carnatic classical music festivals
Carnatic music
Music festivals in India
Year of establishment missing
Annual events in India
Hindu music festivals