What can be more enlightening than to listen to one of the oldest form of classical music in the world – Carnatic music – performed by the best amid the pristine and idyllic surroundings.

A week-long Kalpathy National Music Festival drew thousands of visitors and tourists across communities to Kerala to indulge in the rich and vibrant series of celebration. Kalpathy, situated in the Palakkad district of Kerala is one of the ancient Brahmin Agraharam.

“The annual Kalpathy Sangeetholsavam offered a grand feast to music enthusiasts in Palakkad. With a splendid show of cultural music, the event was aimed at promoting the vibrant tradition and culture of Kerala,” said P Suresh Babu, IAS, District Collector and Chairman, DTPC Palakkad.

The festival that began on November 8 was designed to promote Carnatic music as well as the culturally rich state of Kerala as a prime tourist destination by DTPC Palakkad in association with the cultural department.

“We want to promote Kalpathy Sangeetholsavam as one of the best music festivals in India and encourage tourists’ footfall at the pristine destinations of Kerala,” Babu added.

During the event, various cultural programs were organised such as – vocal concerts by some of the prominent musicians, violin performance by RK Shreeramkumar and NM Brahmadathan, Mridangam performance by Srimushnam Rajarao and N Nagaraj followed by Ghatom performance by S V Ramani.

The opening ceremony of the event was inaugurated by MB Rajesh on Purandaradasa Day (November 8) and was presided over by Shafi Parambil, MLA. And AK Balan, Minister for Cultural Affairs of Kerala, graced the closing ceremony of this iconic cultural event on November 13.

Palakkad is considered as the granary of Kerala. In fact, it is the traditional gateway to the state. Deriving its name from the Malayalam words Pala (Alsteria scholaris) and Kadu (forest), this place is famed for abundance of natural resources… of rich forest cover, rivers, valleys, hills, etc. It plays a major role in the trade contacts between east and west coasts of peninsular India.

Some of the greatest and finest Carnatic musicians in India hail from this region.

Malampuzha, Silent Valley, Nelliyampathy and Tippu’s Fort are some of the key attractions of the district.