A three-day celebration featuring homams, Divya Prabhanda goshti, devotional songs, bhajans and a Bharatanatyam recital marked the Prathishtotsavam Day of Sri Kothandarama Swamy Temple, Coimbatore.
On the first day, Girija Hariharan sang devotional songs on Rama and Krishna with ‘Koluvamaragatha’ in Thodi as the centre piece. ‘Bhavayami Raghuramam,’ ‘Theeraadha Vilaiyattupillai’ and ‘Kaakkai Chiraginile’ were some of the compositions she rendered. The following day, Thiruppathiripuliyur Gopala Sundara Bhagavatar presented a sampradaya bhajan with the traditional items along with tarangams and abhangs.
The concluding day saw a Bharathanatyam solo performance by Lavanya Sankar dedicated to Lord Rama. It drew large crowds and was thoroughly enjoyable. She began with a mallari in Gambhira Nattai followed by ‘Sri Ganapathini’ in Sowrashtram.
‘Jagadanandakarakaa’ was dealt with in great detail with interesting jati patterns. The sanchari for ‘Jaanaki Praana Naayaka’ depicting the scene where the various competitors tried in vain to lift the great bow of Siva was a good example of hasya rasa. The effortless ease with which the dignified Rama lifted the bow and the joyful blush on the face of Sita were delightfully depicted.
Effective depiction
‘Gopi Gopala Bala’ in Gamanashramam by Surdas gave Lavanya immense possibilities for abhinaya and sancharis and she revelled in presenting them. ‘Janakipathe’ in Kharaharapriya by Papanasam Sivan was a good choice. It was lovely to watch Kausalya enjoying her motherhood when Lavanya presented the sanchari for the line, ‘Kausalyaananda Vardhanaa.’ The episodes concerning Guha, Jatayu and Shabhari were briefly but effectively depicted for the charanam. The thillana in Desh and the Sita Rama Kalyanam preceding the mangalam by Balamurali Krishna were just right for the occasion.
During the thillana, Lavayana developed cramps and left the stage gracefully. In a while, she returned with a spirited bounce, exercising great will power to complete the concert with her usual flair.
Koushik Champakesan’s impressive voice that reached the high octaves effortlessly was a great asset to Lavanya’s performance. So was Sathishkumar’s violin whose mood-setting solos during the sancharis were delectable. Thiruvarur K. Venkatasubramaniam’s energetic mridangam and Sairam Santhanam’s majestic and crisp nattuvangam added to the effect.
A news bulletin in the name ‘Sriramam’ was released on the occasion by N.V. Nagasubramaniam, president of Sri Ram Seva Samithi.
