Shivoham: Ilaiyaraaja To Perform At The Kashi Vishwanath Temple On 15 December

The ongoing month long Kashi-Tamil Sangamam being held in Varanasi is set to feature a devotional concert by the legendary composer Illaiyaraaja on 15 December. The special concert is being held after the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust formally requested Ilaiyaraaja and the latter agreed.

"I was overjoyed when I got an invitation to perform at the Kashi Viswanath Temple" said the composer, according to this report. "People from all over the country have been visiting this temple for countless centuries. There are many who are blessed by Vishwanath and take a dip in the holy Ganga. Likewise, many sages, Siddhas, yogis and sages like Buddha, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Kabir Dasa visited this Kashi.

"I have got the first opportunity to conduct a music programme which has never been held before in the temple premises. I feel like Lord Shiva has blessed this. I feel Lord Shiva calling me to listen to my music. It makes me ecstatic that the people of Kashi are going to listen to my music. In this programme I will sing devotional songs composed by myself and devotional songs from movies" said the composer.

The performance on 15 December will follow Illaiyaraaja's short performance as chief guest at the inauguration of the Sangamam on 19 November.

The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is being held as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The objective of the month-long event is to underline the Centuries-old links between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. PM Modi, speaking at the inauguration of the Sangamam, spoke about Kashi and Tamil Nadu being two timeless centres of India’s culture and civilisation.

Already, the programme has been attended by several scholars, artists, students, philosophers, traders, political leaders from both the regions. 

Ilaiyaraaja, the 79-year-old composer, has composed more than 8000 songs over a career spanning more than four decades. He has been conferred with many prestigious awards over the years, including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2012, Padma Bhushan and then Padma Vibhushan in 2018. He recently became a nominated Member of Parliament in the Upper House.