23rd Alva’s Virasat from Jan 13-15 in Moodabidri
Mangaluru: “The 23rd edition of the annual cultural extravaganza of Alva’s Education Foundation, ‘Alva’s Virasat’, is slated for January 13 to January 15 at Moodabidri. Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade will inaugurate the Virasat on January 13 in the presence of Nitte University Chancellor N. Vinay Hegde, On the occasion, eminent classical dancer V.P. Dhananjayan will be presented the ‘Alva’s Virasat 2017’ award “said Dr Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, during the press meet held at Mangalore Press Club.
“The three-day event by Alva’s Group will take place inside Shrimathi Vanajakshi K Sripathi Bhat open auditorium which can comfortably accommodate around 45,000 people. On all three days, events related to singing will take place in the first half of the programme followed by dance events. The even on all the days will begin at 6 pm and conclude at 10.30 pm. Only on the opening day, 45 minutes are allotted for the inaugural ceremony between 5.45 pm and 6.30 pm.” added Dr Alva. Dr Padmanabha, Shenoy the PRO was also present on the dais during the press meet.
Virasat is a cultural extravaganza spread across 4-5 days having a history of 21 years. Virasat is a vivid display of talents by Classical and Folk artists both from the country and abroad. The objective is to familiarize these programmes to the local art lovers by making them view and appreciate the arts displayed. Inculcating and improving the aesthetic taste of the audience is one more rationale behind this. Prominent names like Ms. Sonal Mansingh, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Kadri Goplanathan, Dr Balamuralikrishna, Dr K.J. Yesudas, Pt. Ajay Chakraborty, Padmabhushan Dr Padma Subramnyam have performed here and have been awarded the prestigious Alva’s Virasat Award. More than 40,000 audiences, both domestic and foreign who come exclusively to watch this 3-day programme live on daily basis and more than 20 lakhs audience watch on television.
About Dhananjayan:
Dhananjayan, a native of Payyunur, Kannur district, Kerala, is also a prolific writer who writes on social and political issues, besides dance. He is a recipient of several awards and recognitions, including the Padma Bhushan.
Born on April 17, 1939, into a middle-class family with seven siblings, Dhananjayan had a difficult childhood. Once his father happened to meet Kathakali maestro Chandu Panicker of Kalakshetra, which prompted him to send young Dhananjayan to Kalakshetra to study Kathakali.
Dhananjayan met his future wife Shanta Dhananjayan at Kalakshetra, and she was active in the troupe from 1955 to 1967. After leaving Kalakshetra in the late 1960s, the couple started their own dance school, ‘Bharata Kalanjali’, in 1968 at Adyar and very soon earned success and fame.The award carries a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, a citation and a memento.
