Margazhi in San Francisco — 2020
A virtual festival of dance, music, and arts
Margazhi is the most auspicious month in the Tamil calendar that commences around mid-December and ends by mid-January. It refers to a particular festive period during the winter months when back in Chennai, India hundreds of artists including musicians and dancers from around the world start gathering in large numbers to celebrate the very popular South Indian classical music called Carnatic music along with the traditional dance form of Tamil Nadu called Bharatanatyam. Taking into consideration the indigenous belief of revering the Almighty through musical rhymes and mystical dance steps, the Margazhi festival is conducted at several fascinating venues like venerated temple complexes, heritage bungalows, and renowned auditoriums.
As the world struggled through a pandemic in 2020, artists around the world found it harder to travel for in-person performances and the prospect of a Margazhi season seemed bleak. But it was also true that in such unfortunate circumstances, society needed art more than ever before to bring people together and forge a connection. It was in these difficult conditions that the idea for Margazhi in San Francisco (MISF) was born. MISF was the brainchild of Swathi Lakshmanan, the founder and artistic director of Choros Charas — Destination for Arts in San Francisco. MISF went on to become a successful virtual event dedicated to music and dance that brought together 56 artists chosen from amongst 100 applicants from around the globe to celebrate art in all its glorious forms amidst a pandemic. Organized by the Choros Charas team based in San Francisco, USA, the festival had volunteers from both the USA and India. “The festival showcased talents of age groups from 10 to 80 and included various art forms like Bharathanatyam, Mohiniattam, Kathak, Odissi, Sadhir, Kuchipudi, Carnatic music and Hindustani music”, says Swathi as she looks back at a successful run of the first-ever virtual Margazhi event that aimed at restoring faith in the power of art.
As a recognition for her efforts towards driving the virtual Margazhi season in the USA, Swathi was recently recognized by Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records. She received these prestigious awards in honor of directing the festival for a maximum of consecutive days. “I am glad to have had the opportunity to host the event that brought together so many artists during a pandemic, and to receive recognition for the same”, says Swathi who is already excited about hosting the next Margazhi season in December this year.
To learn more about Swathi’s institute Choros Charas, please visit choroscharas.com
