Duluth, GA, July 25, 2025: On a golden summer evening of June 29, 2025, as twilight tiptoed across Duluth, the Gurukul Event Center transformed into a sanctified space of rhythm, reverence, and resounding cultural pride. The Kerala Hindus of Georgia (KHGA), long known for their heartfelt efforts to keep Kerala’s classical traditions alive within the diaspora, curated an extraordinary evening that was at once a journey into the past and a celebration of enduring heritage.
The spotlight of the evening shone on two time-honored and deeply spiritual art forms—Sopanasangeetham and Ottanthullal—each distinct in character yet bound by the thread of devotion. Together, they brought to life the evocative tale of Rukmini Kalyanam, the divine union of Krishna and Rukmini, weaving music, movement, satire, and soul into an unforgettable performance.
The evening unfolded under the graceful stewardship of Mini Nair, who, on behalf of KHGA, anchored the event with a quiet elegance and deep cultural sensitivity.
The program opened with the mellifluous strains of Sopanasangeetham, performed by Sri Ambalapuzha Vijayakumar. Dressed in the unassuming attire that matched the humble origins of the art form, he sat cross-legged in serene composure, evoking the timeless image of temple musicians seated on the sopanam—the sacred stone steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum of a Kerala temple. As his voice rose in soulful devotion, time seemed to slow.
Each note, each verse carried the fragrance of temple lamps, the stillness of dawn pujas, and the whispered prayers of generations. Singing from the Geeta Govindam and other sacred compositions, Vijayakumar’s renditions were rich in bhava (emotion) and unwavering in their adherence to the classical grammar of the form. The audience was lulled into a meditative state, as though standing on the edge of a temple pond under moonlight, listening to the echoes of divinity…