p3. Sun 11.2.07.

With all excitement I reached the venue by seven. Sorry. That is only what is possible. A whole night programme is like that. Kerala has many. Kathakali for one. That too days on end. Every night it continued for over a week. Then there is the ayyappan pattu which repeats the same performance in different villages. Theyyam, Thira and the thousands of temple festivals in which it is mandatory to have certain forms of all night events. Of course those days, there was no conveyance, especially after the evenings. Many of them are reshaped for the stage. 3 hours at the most. OK for the just enthused. The matured lot still nurtured the 'whole-night' habit. Those who had properties and reltives in the villages went there during the festival weeks and redid the habit. It was an experience for them. Also for those who, though not initiated, had a passion to know and appreciate the music. I had mainly gone there for Darbari. I was sure it will be there by midnight and it was. Middle aged Shri Vinayak Chittar, an illustrious pupil of Grand Ustad Vilayat Khan played Darbari Kanada. The Grand Ustad is said to be greater than the Venerable Pt. Ravi Shankar himself. While the later, like muggle Hermione, learned it all so well enough to break traditions and globalise Hindustani Music and even Great Ustad Ali Akbar Khan did lend a hand, it was the Grand Ustad who stood for traditions.Now in the evening next day, Sunday, I sit listening the great Khan Saheb of Sitar playing Rag Darbari.