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Shri L. Sabaretnam, Smt. Vishakha Hari, Smt. Gayathri Venkataraghavan, Shri R. Seshasayee, Shri S. S. Rajsekar and Shri K. N. Ramaswamy.
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The Bhavan's Chennai Kendra's Cultural Festival was inaugurated on Sunday, November 20, 2016 at its Mylapore premises by Shri R. Seshasayee, Chairman, Infosys Limited. The series consists of very many senior artistes as well as upcoming artistes. Smt. Vishakha Hari, an eminent Harikatha exponent and Smt. Gayathri Venkataraghavan, a leading carnatic vocalist, were awarded the Bhavan's P. Obul Reddy and P. Gnanambal Life Time Achievement awards instituted by Shri P. Vijaykumar Reddy and Dr. Preetha Reddy. The awards which carried a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, a medallion, a citation and a shawl were presented in a colourful function held at Bhavan's Dr. Preetha Reddy Auditorium. Inaugurating the Festival, Shri Seshasayee appreciated the Bhavan's efforts in preserving and propagating Indian Culture and its values. Kendra Chairman, Shri L. Sabaretnam, in his presidential address gave details about the activities of Bhavan in general with special reference to Chennai Kendra.
Bhavan is extending support to the Special Children, Yoga Training Courses, Choir Music, Sanskrit Education, etc. He also said that the Tamil Literary programmes conducted throughout the year are a grand success. Shri S. S. Rajsekar, Bhavan's Kala Kendra Sub-Committee Chairman in his welcome address gave a brief about the festival lasting up to January 14, 2017. The series consists of 174 individual events with more than 800 artistes participating. The special emphasis during this year's festival is bhajans by various Schools students, Choir Music, Harikatha. Sanskrit Drama, Bhagavatha Mela, Hindustani Music, guitar, sitar, etc. He said that no day goes without one cultural activity or the other happening at the Bhavan's Mylapore centre. Smt. Vishakha Hari in her acceptance speech paid rich tributes to her Gurus and expressed her gratitude to the Bhavan for selecting her for the Award. Smt. Gayathri Venkataraghavan also paid rich tributes to her Gurus and said that she is very happy to receive the Bhavan's Life Time Achievement Award which is of immense value to her especially when it is being received during the Centenary Year of M. S. Subbulakshmi. The Inaugural Festival concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Shri K. N. Ramaswamy, Director, Bhavan's Chennai Kendra.
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