Annual Ramanavami music festival opens on March 27

The 88th edition of the Sree Ramanavami Global Music Festival returns to the Old Fort High School grounds in Chamarajpet on March 27. Organised by Sree Ramaseva Mandali, the festival will run until April 22.

The main concerts, featuring notable artistes such as Sandeep Narayan, Rahul Vellal and sisters Ranjani and Gayatri, will begin at 6.30 pm every day. Karnatik vocalist Abhishek Raghuram will perform on the inaugural day of this year’s edition.

Well-known violinist N Rajam will perform with her daughter, Sangeetha Shankar, and granddaughter, Nandini Shankar. The month-long event will conclude with a special mandolin and vocal jugalbandi featuring U Rajesh and Hari Sivaramakrishnan.

The festival, regarded as one of India’s largest classical music events, has a rich legacy spanning decades. It was started by S V Narayanaswamy Rao in 1939 as a three-day event, and its last edition in 2025 drew over 4 lakh footfalls. Over the years, it has been graced by musical maestros such as K J Yesudas, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Mysore Doreswamy Iyengar, and M S Subbulakshmi. “The festival has democratised (access to) classical music, which continues to be its fundamental idea,” said Abhijit Varadaraj, executive officer, Sree Ramaseva Mandali. But there has been a change in the crowd. “We witness newer and younger audiences coming in every year. The music festival shows that young people take an interest in classical music when given an appropriate platform,” Varadaraj added.

For tickets and full schedule, visit ramanavami.org