Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 | Vocal Recital, Sep 18

The Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 run on this evening in R. A. Puram. R. Rajiv performs at Sri Siddhi Buddhi Sameetha Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple on September 18, 2026, from 5:30 PM.

The temple hosts the series across the festival period. Moreover, tonight’s ensemble brings both mridangam and ghatam to the stage. Therefore, the percussion side carries real depth.

Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026: Full Event Details

Programme: Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 — Vocal Event
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: Sri Siddhi Buddhi Sameetha Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, No. 19, 2nd Cross Street, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai 600028
Contact: 044 2432 8084
Event Type: Classical Music — Vocal

The Ensemble Performing Tonight

Four artists share the stage.

R. Rajiv — Vocal. He leads the concert. Consequently, his raga choices shape the arc of the whole evening.

Chrompet Sivaraman Suresh — Violin. He provides melodic accompaniment and answers the vocal line.

Manikudi S. Chandrasekaran — Mridangam. He anchors the rhythmic foundation of every piece.

J. Ramdass — Ghatam. He adds a second percussion voice alongside the mridangam.

Why the Ghatam Pairing Rewards Attention

Many concerts run with mridangam alone. This one adds a ghatam, and the contrast is immediately audible.

The ghatam is a clay pot played with fingers, palms and wrists. Because it produces a drier, sharper attack than the mridangam, the two instruments complement rather than duplicate each other.

Watch for the tani avartanam especially. During this percussion solo, both players exchange rhythmic phrases back and forth. In fact, this segment often becomes the highlight of any evening in the Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 series.

What to Expect at a Temple Concert

Carnatic music grew up inside temples long before sabha halls existed.

Consequently, hearing a recital in a temple returns the music to its original setting. The acoustics differ, the seating is usually informal, and the audience mixes regular concert-goers with devotees who came for darshan.

Because the occasion is Vinayaga Chaturthi, expect compositions on Ganesha to feature prominently. Pieces like Vatapi Ganapatim and Siddhi Vinayakam suit the evening naturally. However, the artist decides the final list on stage.

About the Festival Series

Vinayaga Chaturthi marks Ganesha’s birth and falls in the Tamil month of Avani. Temples across Chennai run concerts, discourses and annadanam through the festival period.

This temple has scheduled several concerts across the season, spanning nadaswaram and vocal formats. Therefore, ask about the remaining programme while you are there — the Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 continue beyond tonight.

How to Reach the Temple

A few tips help:

Arrive by 5:15 PM. Festival concerts draw larger crowds than usual.

Expect informal seating. Temple concerts often seat the audience on mats.

Plan your parking. R. A. Puram’s cross streets stay narrow. So park on a main road and walk.

Dress traditionally. The setting is devotional.

Call ahead. Reach 044 2432 8084 to confirm timing.

Plan Your Evening in R. A. Puram

R. A. Puram sits between Adyar and Mylapore, so the area stays well connected. Additionally, plenty of eateries operate nearby if you arrive early.

Finally, keep tracking Chennai classical music events with us. Between festival series like the Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 and the December Margazhi season, the calendar stays full.

Final Thoughts

A full percussion pairing, a festival occasion and an early 5:30 PM start — this evening of the Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 makes an easy Friday plan. Reach the temple by 5:15 PM and settle in.