Compositions of Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Syama Sastri, the Carnatic Trinity  were the highlight of the Trimurthi Day at the Sri Lakshmi Temple in Ashland on March 31st, 2007.

More than 100 students participated in this vocal and instrumental performance in the Carnatic tradition under the auspices of the Temple Committee. The day started with a pooja performed by the temple priest  Krishna Buttar after which K. G. Narayana, President welcomed the participants and the audience and gave a short introduction to the day's events." In the past Tyagaraja day was celebrated duirng this time, but we have now made it Trimurthi Day honoring the Carnatic Trinity" he said. Durga Krishnan, veena and vocal teacher  was the organizer for the  event. Asked why she thought such events were important, she said.," I enjoy watching these children raised here performing this musical art. Such events give them an opportunity to showcase their talent and they practise a lot more to get ready. I experimented with the Orchestra for the first time this year and it was very well received. I think we should encourage the area teachers to combine their students talents and put together groups such as these. When you combine vocal and different instruments and add some extra music to the original compositions in a seamless manner, it enhances the program and makes it more interesting to both the performers and the audience".

A group of ladies Ranjini Ramaswamy, Lakshmi Ramaswamy, Lakshmi Setlur, Jyothi Narasimhan and Lakshmi Samudrla sang Thyagaraja's pancha rathna kritis as usual, but also included Dikshitar's Gajananayutham in Chakravaham and Syama Sastry's Palimchu Kamakshi in Madhyamavathi because of the Trimurthy Day this year while Sri Krishna Buttar performed abhishekam to the idol of Sri Rama.

Area teachers whose students performed were Durga Krishnan, Tara Anand, Geetha Murali, Sandhya Sridhar, Sandhya Ganesh and Aparna Balaji.  Instruments played were Violin, Veena, Flute, Mridangam combined with vocal talent. For the first time registration was online which made it a lot easier and helped avoid the confusion and huge crowds in the past. It was definitely very hearterning to see Carnatic music flourishing so well in the New Engalnd area thanks to the dedication and committment of both students and teachers.

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