Chembai Sangeetholsavam is a popular Carnatic musical festival which is organised in Guruvayur, Kerala by Guruvayur Devaswom, which bears a resemblance to the Thyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru. The beautiful musical event is held as a form of homage to one of the veteran musicians of Carnatic Classical Music known as Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar. It is believed that Chembai Bhagavatar was a talented musician belonging to Chembai in Palakkad who was born on 1st September, 1896. Several music enthusiasts were charmed by his mesmerizing abilities of creating excellent music and delivering melodious renditions of music. It continues for a period of about 12 to 15 days in November, taking place since the year 1910. It is held on the day of `Ekadasi`, and its official venue is the Sree Krishna Temple.
History of Chembai Sangeetholsavam
For nearly 60 years, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar had conducted the music festival by his own efforts and used to invite all the dexterous musicians of Carnatic Classical Music for performing in that festival. However, gradually with the passage of time, the festival came to be known as `Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana` festival, which was amongst the festivals which were employed to pay homage to the Indian saint Thyagaraja. Following the death of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar during 1974, the musical event was referred as Chembai Sangeetholsavam in his honour, by the Guruvayur Devaswom.
The festival is thronged by about 2000 to 2500 participants, wherein at least five favourite songs of Chembai Bhagavatar are played, in his memory, apart from Thyagaraja`s Pancharatna Kritis. Gradually, Chembai Sangeetholsavam is gaining much popularity. The favourite songs of Chembai include `Rakshmam saranagatam` or `Natta`, `Vathapi Ganapatim` or `Hamsadhwani`, `Mamavi sadaajanani` or `Kanada`, `Paavanaguru pavanapuradeeswara` or `Hamsanandi` and `Karuna Cheivan entu thamasam Krishna` or `Yadukula kamboji`.
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