Carnatic Music Concert at Mahalingapuram Sree Ayyappan Guruvayurappan Temple
The Mandalam Makara Vilakku 2025–26 celebrations at Mahalingapuram Sree Ayyappan Guruvayurappan Temple featured a soulful Carnatic music concert on the auspicious first day of the Tamil month Margazhi.
Smt. Aparna Swaminathan, a B grade artiste of All India Radio set the tone for the evening with devotional fervor, beginning her recital with Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai, invoking the spiritual essence of the season. She followed this with a sloka on Lord Ayyappa, before presenting the composition Aadi Paadi in the raga Charukesi, which drew the audience into deep bhakti.
Her rendition of Guruvayurappane Appan in Ritigowlai and Varuvaro Varam Tharuvaro in Saama was marked by soulful expression and melodic grace. Aparna further delighted rasikas with popular pieces such as Sri Chakra Raja, Azhagu Deivamaga, and Bharatiyar’s evergreen lullaby Chinnanchiru Kiliye Kannamma.
The concert concluded with a vibrant Tiruppugazh, leaving the audience spiritually uplifted. Aparna was ably accompanied by Kum. Keerthi Rani on the violin, whose sensitive bowing enhanced the recital, and Sri. S.G. Venkatraman on the mridangam, whose rhythmic support added depth and vitality to the performance.