Carnatic Concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple | Sep 16, 2026
A Carnatic concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple takes place tomorrow evening, and the percussion line-up alone justifies the trip. Mohan Santhanam performs at Sri Siddhi Buddhi Sameetha Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple on September 16, 2026, from 7:00 PM.
The programme forms part of the temple’s Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026. Moreover, three percussion instruments share the stage. Therefore, the tani avartanam should be exceptional.
Carnatic Concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple: Full Details
Programme: Vinayaga Chaturthi Concerts 2026 — Vocal Event
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 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 Five-Artist Ensemble
Five artists share the stage tomorrow.
Mohan Santhanam — Vocal. He leads the concert. Consequently, his raga choices shape the whole evening.
Raghul Ravichandran — Violin. He provides melodic accompaniment and answers the vocal line.
B. Guru Raghavendra — Mridangam. He anchors the rhythmic foundation.
A. S. Krishnan — Moorsing. He adds a rare metallic percussion voice.
S. Venkataramanan — Kanjira. He completes the three-part percussion section.
Why Three Percussionists Make This Special
Most concerts run with mridangam alone. Some add a ghatam or kanjira. Three percussion instruments together is genuinely uncommon.
The mridangam carries the rhythmic architecture, with deep bass and full tonal range.
The kanjira is a small frame drum with a single jingle in its rim. Because the player adjusts skin tension by hand, it produces remarkable pitch variation for its size.
The moorsing is a metal jaw harp, held against the teeth and struck with a finger. The player shapes the sound by changing mouth cavity and breath. Its tone is thin, metallic and instantly recognisable.
Consequently, the three sit in completely different sonic registers. Nothing overlaps.
Watch for the tani avartanam especially. Three players trading rhythmic phrases creates layers you rarely hear in a single concert. In fact, this alone makes a Carnatic concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple worth attending for percussion enthusiasts.
About the Moorsing
The moorsing deserves particular attention because it appears so rarely.
It belongs to the jaw harp family, versions of which exist across many cultures. However, its use within Carnatic rhythm is distinctly South Indian.
Playing it demands unusual control. Breath, tongue position and striking hand must coordinate precisely. Furthermore, the instrument produces no melody at all — everything depends on rhythm and timbre. Therefore, hearing a skilled moorsing artist is a genuine treat.
Why Vinayaga Chaturthi Suits This Concert
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.
Because Ganesha is invoked at the start of every undertaking, concerts on this occasion carry particular weight. Additionally, most Carnatic recitals open with a Ganesha invocation anyway. So a Carnatic concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple during Chaturthi fits perfectly.
How to Reach the Temple
A few tips help:
Arrive by 6:45 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 programmes like this Carnatic concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple and the December Margazhi season, the calendar stays full.
Final Thoughts
Three percussionists, a festival occasion and a temple setting — this Carnatic concert at Karpaga Vinayagar Temple offers something the usual circuit rarely provides. Reach by 6:45 PM and stay for the tani.
