7) Chembai Music Festival

Chembai Music Festival is held in Trivandrum, Kerala. It is organized during September, Ekadashi in particular. It continues for 11 days. It commemorates the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, a renowned Carnatic musician. He was a zealous devotee of Lord Sree Guruvayurappan. Famous musicians and artists from all over India come to attend this festival. Sri Chembai Memorial trust arranges this festival. Over 2,000 Carnatic musicians are present in this revered event. This festival is another union of the old and the new of India’s classical music. The main attraction of this is the recital of the songs of saint Thyagaraja's 'Pancharatna Krithis' on the 10^th day. The most popular songs here are - Paavanagurupavanapuradeeswara on raag Hamsanandi, Karuna Cheivanentuthamasam Krishna on raag Yadukulakamboj, ‘Rakshmamsaranagatam' on raag Natta, Mamavasadaajanani on raag Kanada and Vadapiganapatim' on raag Hamsadhwani. Eminent personalities at this festival are - K.G. Jayan, Kumarakom Ganesh Gopal, Ramkumar Mohan, S. R. Vinu and many more.