Guruvayur Devaswom Chembai Sangeetholsavam held in conjunction with Guruvayur Ekadashi celebrations will begin on Sunday (November 16). The Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Music Awards will be held on the same day. Guruvayur Ekadashi will be celebrated on 1st December while Gajarajan Kesavan Memorial Day will be celebrated on 30th November. Preparations for major spiritual and cultural events are ongoing according to devaswom.
Chembai Sangeetholsavam is held in memory of Carnatic music legend Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and his Ekadashi Nadopasana. The tamburu used by Chembai will be ceremonially transported from his native house in Kottay, Palakkad on Saturday. After receptions at various centres, he will reach the East Nada of the Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple around 5.45 pm on Sunday, where he will be traditionally welcomed and installed in the Sangeetha mandapam.
The festival will be inaugurated by Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Gopi at Melpathur Auditorium (Chembai Music Mandapam) at 6 pm. Devaswom Chairman VK Vijayan will preside.
During the ceremony, the prestigious Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award will be presented to musician Palkulangara K. Ambikadevi. This will be followed by a special concert conducted by the awardee. Sadanam Harikumar will introduce the awardee and MV Narayanan will deliver the Krishna Geethi Day keynote address. The event, which will continue till Ekadashi Day, will see the participation of more than two thousand music enthusiasts and leading musicians.
On November 30, the day of Dasami, the festival will include an elephant procession and an ayanootu (elephant feast) as part of Guruvayur Kesavan commemoration.
Published – 14 Nov 2025 20:34 IST
