SiliconAndhra's 'Mangalavadya Mahanaadam' on May 6

More than 3500 Nadaswara, Dhol (Percussion), Clarinet and Saxophone artists will be performing 'Mangalavadya Mahaanaadam' at Lalbahadur stadium in Hyderabad on May 6 on the occasion of Tallapaka Annamacharya 604th Jayanthi to play Vaggeyakara Keertanas to highlight the plight of nadaswaram artists who play auspicious music in Indian marriages and functions.

The 'Mangalavadya Mahaanaadam' is organized by SiliconAndhra, a US based organization, created 4 Guinness World Records in Kuchipudi Dance and Annamayya Keertanas, trying to help revive Indian Traditions.

The Mega Concert is a part of the two day International Mangalavadya Sammelanam (convention) being organized in the Lalbahadur Stadium on 5 and 6 May. Andhra Pradesh State Cultural Department is helping Siliconandhra organize the event.

Two Governors, Sri ESL Narasimhan of Andhra Pradesh and Sri K Rosaiah of Tamilnadu will formally inaugurate the event in front of an anticipated crowd of 25,000 audience. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy, Union Minister Smt Daggupati Purandreswari and State Ministers will also grace the occasion.

The artist drawn from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Srilanka, Singapore and Canada will be playing Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje, Adigo Alladigo, Tandanana, Venkatachalanilayam, Paluke Bangaramayena, Saroja dala netri and Endaro mahanubhavulu. The concert will end with the traditional Mangalam.

'Earlier during the day all the participants will take a procession from the TTD temple in Basheerbagh to the LB Stadium playing the respective instruments, to create awareness among the public that Mangalavadyams are not just played in weddings but are instruments cable of holding separate concerts like any carnatic music,' said Kuchibhotla Anand, Founder President of Siliconandhra.

Organizers are planning to expand the venue further if more artists desire to participate in the mega event. 'The entry is free and all they need to do is to register and practice the list of the keertanas already being announced,' Anand added.

Eminent Dhol artist Tarigoppula Narayana said that 'Nadaswaram' accompanied by 'Mangala Vadyalu' holds a special place in the Indian tradition and no marriage or function is complete without the performance of these artists.

However, of late they are losing their patronage and artistes are left high and dry', the two day convention will discuss the causes for the plight of Nadaswara artists and pass resolutions to suggest solutions to the governments for the welfare of Mangalavadya artists.

All the participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from the AP State Cultural Department and SiliconAndhra. SiliconAndhra has earlier organised a Laksha Gala Archana (One lakh singers) and created a Guinness record, with a theme of music for the grass roots.

"Mangalavadya Mahaanaadam" Concert is open to all and entry is free. Organisers also request public to come to the stadium and encourage the Mangalavadyam Artists as each house is connected with this artform for all their household occassions.