Thiruvonam celebrations 2025

- Chandra Anand
e-mail: chandra6267@yahoo.co.in
Photos courtesy: Shanmukhananda Fine Arts

November 8, 2025

Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, running 73 years, has committed to a themed across-the-board plan to showcase "a whole year of music and art dedicated to a singular state and, thus, take all through the glory of the culture, art and tradition of our nation through the prism of the various states that represent a distinct cultural identity" of its own and help the Mumbai public experience all cultural flavours of our Indian nation. 'Carnataka Keraleeyam' is the beginning of the above journey. With the choicest of performances in classical Carnatic music, dances styles of Kathakali, Mohiniattam and folklore like Kaikottikali to grand feasts of festivals - Vishu and Onam - the Sabha explored the core of Kerala, hoping to deeply connect with the enchanting land of Kerala.

Chenda melam

On 7th September 2025, Thiruvonam celebrations held at the Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium, Mumbai, by Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha was a cultural and food festival starting with Chenda melam presentation and culminating in Onam Sadya. Upasana Akademy of Fine Arts presented a fine visual expose of dance styles of Kerala state. This was supported by FEI and South Indian Bank who were the main sponsors of the event.

The festivities commenced with state anthem, national anthem and a prayer sung by Aishwarya Nair in Malayalam, "Maveli manushan ellam onnu poley" which expressed the greatness of the Kerala land and joy of Onam festivities. Chenda melam performance exhibited pulsating energy and the artistes were honoured with shawl and tamboolam.

Kalamandalam Gopi receives award

Kalamandalam Gopi (Vadakke Manalath Govindan Nair), the living legend of Kathakali, was honoured with Sabha's highest award 'Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan'. He has merited universal fame by means of his matchless artistry. Gopi Ashan has spent a great part of his life's journey with Kalamandalam. In fact, he served as its Principal for over three decades. He was honoured by the Indian Government with the Padma Shri in 2009. The other sabhas and institutes of Mumbai and temples also honoured him. Gopi Ashan, as he is lovingly called, said that in all his life, he knows and has done only Kathakali. Therefore, he avers that his language is "the songs and the gestures" he uses to portray the meanings. This affection given by all to him, is the respect and adulation given to the art of Kathakali and to the greatest artiste Vallathol. He considers himself an agent chosen by God to accept this award on their behalf.

Kaikottikali

Kaikottikali, also known as Thiruvathirakali, is an elegant, traditional Kerala folk dance performed by groups of women in a circle around a central lamp Nilavilakku, featuring synchronized clapping and rhythmic movements, subtle footwork (forward, backward, sideways), half-bending, and rhythmic jumps to devotional songs. Songs used are traditional folk compositions passed down orally through generations. "Deepthi Ganapati", an invocation to Lord Ganesha, was danced to the singing of Meera Rammohan and Thara Sreeraj. "Bandhurangeemaare", a pure folklore, explained women coming together adorning traditional attire of mundu-veshti and jewelry, calling out to each and every girl around, to come and dance to celebrate and enjoy the occasion.

"Poove Polli" is a thematic Kummi song that narrates the journey from Atham to Uthradam, when vibrant Pookkalams (floral carpets) begin to adorn homes across Kerala. The verses also brought alive the delightful Onam Sadya Vibhavangal (dishes). The hand movements were very graceful and seemed to explain the emotions of the lyrics. Intricate movements and many formations were done beautifully. It was choreographed by Guru Savitri Rajan, trained and taught by her daughter Sujatha Rajan Arun to the 12 dancers - Aishwarya Poojari, Anushree Tamaskar, Anvesha Ahankar, Dhananandini Rajruben, Mitali Patil, Payal Puthran, Priyadarshini, Rahini NVJ, Ritwika Chakrabarthi, Shubha Kumar, Sindhu Nair and Swati Patil - students of Upasana.

Renjish Nair

Kalakshethram Renjish Nair, student of Kalamandalam C Gopakakrishnan, gave a brilliant Kathakali performance. He presented an excerpt from Duryodanavadam, a conversation between Lord Krishna and Draupadi where the messages that "all happens is ordained by God" and the idea of "good over evil" will prevail through the punishment of Dushasana and Duryodana was unveiled. The conversation, presented in the pachcha costume of Lord Krishna, was a tribute to Gopi Ashan, who extensively played pachcha characters.

Layakavithai

In their Bharatanatyam segment, Upasana Akademy presented 'Layakavithai', an item based on a musical composition by Late Karaikudi Mani, where the dancers expressing great devotion seek the blessings of Gurus, Goddess Saraswati and Lord Dakshinamurthy. The lyrical meaning was conveyed with apt gestures amalgamated with well displayed nritta patterns and poses of the Gods made good visual impact. This was performed by Aadhyaa Arun Menon, Avika Shetty, Bhumika Sakpal, Jhassithaa Balakrishna, Shalini Balasubramanian, Shrushti Jayaprakash and Sucheta Arun Menon. The item was choreographed by Guru Jayashree Nair, artistic director of Upasana Akademy of Fine Arts which is running in its 50 year.

The intention of the Onam festivities was reiterated through the Bharatanatyam presentation of the legend of Mahabali and Vamana. It is believed that King Mahabali, who is the ruler of netherworld, visits his old kingdom and its people every year and he is welcomed with this festival of plenty. Vamana avataram of Lord Vishnu is also worshipped in the form of Trivikrama, fondly known as Trikkakkara Appan and is the presiding deity of the temple at Trikkakkara. The story was dramatically presented with gestures and movements that sculpted the stage economically magnifying the visualization of the grace of God.

Mohiniattam

Through 'Gopikaa Mohanam', a Mohiniattam presentation, the dancers recreated episodes from the story of Krishna avataram. Raasaleela, Kaliyamardhana, Poothana Moksham, Govardhanodhaarana and Krishna as the heartthrob of the Gopikas of Gokulam were performed with great grace and aplomb. The episodes were interspersed with intricate korvais, patterns with the characteristic circles and dips. The Upasana students who performed this item were - Adwita Pradeep, Amrutha Das, Archana Vasudevan, Jayalakshmi Anand, Neha Nair, Rajani Jayan, Saritha Pradeep, Shruthi Krishna, Sujatha Nair, Sujatha Raja Arun, Swetha Shankar and Vishesha Adhvaryu.

The day's presentation concluded with 'Varsha' where the dark monsoon clouds were compared to grand elephants and the majestic arrival of the Rain God, riding a magnificent elephant, accompanied by a retinue of dancing peacocks under the glow of the colorful rainbow, was visually appealing and creatively crafted in the jugalbandi of Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam styles. It was performed to the lyrics "Karukarey karmukil", written by Late Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Malayalam poet and musicologist who again has contributed to Malayalam literature and Sopanam music of Kerala.

The event was attended in large numbers and after partaking of the excellent Onam Sadya, the audience is awaiting the next segment of unveiling of the Kerala culture.

Chandra Anand is a Bharatanatyam artiste and teacher. She has an MA in Bharatanatyam from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, and her series on 'Education in spiritual values through Bharatanatyam' is featured in narthaki.com.