Features of the event earlier and now
On the first day, Friday, morning, at 5 a.m., the MRK starts with Ganapathi homam, Vigneshwara Puja, followed by rendition of Ashtapathi (the other name of Geetha Govindam) by many locally and nationally renowned bhagavathars until noon, which is again resumed in the evening session. Since 1955, for the first 24 years, that is, until 1979, from dusk to late into the night, on the first and third days, it had been a practice to perform Harikatha Upanyasam (religious-themed storytelling). The first-day upanyasam was performed by stalwarts like Balakrishna Sastrigal, Embar Vijayaraghavachariar, Sengalipuram Kalyanarama Bhattacharyar and Jeyarama Sharma.
The second-day festivities start at morning 8’o clock with Unjavruthi, a procession singing bhajans on the streets, which has been one of the highlights of the MRK (for more on unjavruthi, click here). The aim of the procession, which covers the streets around the venue, is to bring the glory of chanting Lord’s name to all people by going house to house singing His praise. The Unjavruthi bhajan at the MRK led by eminent bhagavathars starts at the Senthangudi Japa Matam (now Vallalar Koil Mandapam), passes through Vijithrayar Street, Vallalar Double Street, Sannathi Street, Vallalar Dakshinamoorthy temple, Vallalar Single street, and North and South Ramalinga Streets, concluding at the mutt.
That evening from 4 o’ clock until midnight, Abhinaya Alankara Divyanama Bhajan is performed by the bhagavathars.
On the third day, Sunday, morning, in the final part and the climax of the Radha Kalyana Mahotsavam, the Ashtapathi singing is continued with Divyanama Bhajan with deepa pradakshinam (circumambulation of the lighted lamp). Many kirtanas and namavalis also accompany. With the rendering of 22nd song called Kalyana Ashtapathi, the divine wedding is solemnized with much fervor. The ceremony is succeeded by a grand mass annadhanam.
In Tamil culture, and Telugu culture,the nadaswaram is considered to be very auspicious, and it is a key musical instrument played in almost all Hindu weddings and temples of the South Indian tradition. It is part of the family of instruments known as Mangala Vadyam. In MRK for the last 62 years the same tradition is followed on Radhakalyanam day. Nadaswaram exponents the Sembanar Kovil Brothers Kalaimamani award winner Shri. SRG. Sambandam and his brother Shri. Rajanna used to perform Nadaswaram for over 40 years and later their next generation SRGS Vasanthkumar and Mohandass took over the same.
On that evening Harikatha by Shrimathi. Kamala Murthy used to take place, followed by Anjaneya utsavam and Dolotsavam that concluded the annual Radha Kalyana Mahotsavam.
The same routine has religiously been followed to the present day except that since the 25th year’s celebration—from 1980—Carnatic music concerts (for more on this click here) by leading artists of the day had replaced first and third day evenings’ Harikatha.
