Sangeetha Jagruthi Institutes ‘The Pandit Adibhatla Narayana Das Memorial Award’

Sangeetha Jagruthi, a music and cultural organisation of Bengaluru celebrated Pandit Narayana Das' sesquicentennial on September 5 on a grand scale, in a sabha held in the Bangalore Gayana Samaja auditorium. The organisation instituted a national award in the name of Sri Adibhatla Narayana Dasu. The first award was given away to Dr. Srikantham Nagendra Sastry a well known Karnatic Music exponent by ‘Kalatapasvi’ Sri K. Viswanath the famous film maker who made a number of films with classical music and dance as the backdrop of their storyline. Sri A. V. Rajtrinath, the founder of Sangeetha Jagruthi infomed that the ‘The Pandit Adibhatla Narayana Das Memorial Award’ which carries a citation and a cash award of Rs 1,00,000/- would be given away to an eminent exponent in the fields of Karnatic Music or Harikatha every year. 

Here is a selection of photos from the function:

The Sesquicentennial Begins

Pandit Narayana Das' 149th birth anniversary (August 31, 2013) marks the beginning of his sesquicentennial year. AP Government's Department of Culture and Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams are orgainising year-long celebrations. 

The TTD's celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary began with a week-long seminar in Tirupathi on September 1, held in the Mahati Auditorium. Each day of the seminar was marked by a paper presentation on one aspect of Pandit Narayana Das' oeuvre and performance of a Hari Katha written by him. 

On September 4 (Pandit Narayana Das' birth day as per Telugu calendar), famous film director Sri K. Viswanath unveiled a statue of the great man in the premises of Sri Venkateswar Music and Dance College. 

The poster outside Mahati Auditorium, Tirupathi 

The poster outside Mahati Auditorium, Tirupathi

The venue of the seminar

The venue of the seminar

The venue of the seminar

Pandit Narayana Das' statue ready for inauguration

K Viswanath walking in to unveil the statue

Pandit Narayana Das' statue

K Viswanath speaking after unveiling the statue.
M G Gopal, Executive Offiver, TTD also seen in this picture. 

K Viswanath speaking after unveiling the statue

M G Gopal, Executive Officer, TTD addressing the media.
Also seen in the picture: K Viswanath (L).

K Viswanath speaking after unveiling the statue

K Viswanath addressing media after unveiling the statue

M V Simhachala Sastry addressing invitees after statue inaguration

K Viswanath addressing invitees after statue inaguration

Prayer before the seminar began on Septemeber 5

U Raja Rajeswari Devi presenting her paper:
"Purnapurushudu, Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu"
Seen on the stage: Sri Ravva Srihari, Editor, TTD Publications &
Smt. Challa Prabhavathi Deekshitulu, Principal S V Music & Dance College