Dallas Navarātri Sangeetōtsav 2025

Previous Year Annual Songs

2024
2023
2022
2022
2021
2021
2021

Global Annual Song Video Contest 2025

(Indian Classical or Semi-Classical Style)

Sangeeta Bharati America is a nonprofit organization that practices, performs, and promotes Indian classical music and dance in the United States. It celebrates one song of national importance in India every year as a tribute to the organization’s roots.

From 2025, the annual song will be selected through a contest. For this year, the organization has selected Dr. N. R. Madhu Meenacchil’s composition to introduce the vibrant Kerala region of Mother India.

Registration Fee: USD 25

Highlights

  1. Open to participants from all countries
  2. No age restrictions
  3. Only vocal videos
  4. Audio quality: PCM Wave file 24bit 48000Hz studio quality recording
  5. Video quality should be: 4K
  6. The song can be tuned to folk style, semi-classical, or any classical raga (Karnataka Sangeeta/Hindusthani)
  7. Accompanying music is optional
  8. Selected videos will be hosted on Sangeeta Bharati platforms

Selection Criteria

  1. Perfect sāhitya pronunciation with proper punctuations
  2. Appropriate expressions and emotions (bhāva)
  3. Shruti consistency
  4. Appealing in singing (saukhya)
  5. Overall aesthetics of the final video

Instructions

  1. Videos shouldn’t be in the learning mode (lead-and-follow format)
  2. A landscape-oriented 4K Video with a PCM Audio Wave file (24-bit, 48000 Hz) in studio-quality recording should be saved on your own Google Drive, OneDrive, or a similar platform, and the link should be sent to dallasnavaratrisangeetotsav2025@sangeetabharati.org from the registered email address.
  3. The audio file should also be uploaded to the same folder.
  4. The prizes will be announced on July 15th, 2025, on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SangeetaBharatiAmerica/
  5. The prize money will be sent in check if the winners are from the US or Canada. Winners from other nations receive it through international money transfer services.
  6. The contest may be called off if no videos with minimum requirements are received. In this case, the registration fee will be refunded.

If you have any questions, you can write email to

dallasnavaratrisangeetotsav2025@sangeetabharati.org

Reference Video

Lyrics in Malayalam

ആദി ശങ്കരനാത്മ ബോധം ഉണർന്നുയർന്നൊരു കേരളം

ദ്വൈതമില്ല അദ്വൈതമെല്ലാം എന്ന ബോധം ഉദിച്ചിടം

മാതൃ ഭാരത പാദ പീഠമിതാണ് കേരള പുണ്യ ഭൂ

ശക്തിയും ശിവനും പരസ്പര നോട്ടം ഏറ്റ് അമരുന്നിടം ||൧||

 

ശിലയെ ശിവനായ് പ്രാണനേകിയ നാണു ഗുരുവിൻ കേരളം

ജാതി മതിലുകൾ തീണ്ടൽ വേലികൾ നാമെരിച്ചു കളഞ്ഞിടം

വില്ലു വണ്ടിയിലെത്തി അയ്യൻകാളി കാട്ടിയ നേർവഴി

മന്നം എന്ന മഹാരഥിക്കണി ചേർന്ന് പാതകൾ വീണ്ടിടം ||൨||

 

അന്തണൻ മുതൽ അന്ത്യജൻ വരെയുള്ള മാനവരേവനും

വേദ വാങ്‌മയമൊന്നു പോലെ പകർന്ന ഗുരു ചട്ടമ്പിയും

പന്തി ഭോജനമാലെ തീണ്ടലൊഴിച്ചു നീക്കി കറുപ്പനും

മുന്തിരിക്കിണറാലയിത്തമൊടുക്കി അയ്യാസ്വാമിയും ||൩||

 

പറയി പെറ്റു വളർന്ന പന്തിരുകുലമതെങ്കിലുമേകർ നാം

നമ്മിലൊഴുകുവതേക ഭാരത രക്തമെന്നു നിനയ്ക്കണം

വീരകേരളവർമ്മ വേലുത്തമ്പി ചെമ്പിലൊരരയനും…

പോരിൽ നേടിയതാണു കേരള സ്വാഭിമാനമതോർക്കണം ||൪||

 

തുഞ്ചൻ ഓതിയ രാമകഥയിലുണർന്ന ധാർമ്മിക കേരളം

കുഞ്ചനിൽ ചിരി തുള്ളി ഗാഥകൾ പാടി ആടിയ നാടിത്

ഭാർഗ്ഗവൻ മഴുവാലുയർത്തിയൊരാർഷ കേരള നാടിനെ

സംഘ മന്ത്രമുരുക്കഴിച്ചിനി നാം നയിക്കുക നന്മയിൽ ||൫||

Lyrics in Devanagari

आदि शङ्करनात्म बॊधं उणर्‍न्नुयर्‍न्नोरु कॆरळं

द्वैतमिल्ल अद्वैतमेल्लां एन्न बॊधं उदिच्चिटं

मातृ भारत पाद पीठमिताण कॆरळ पुण्य भू

शक्तियुं शिवनुं परस्पर नॊट्टं ऎऱ्ऱ अमरुन्निटं ||१||

 

शिलये शिवनाय प्राणनॆकिय नाणु गुरुविन्‍ कॆरळं

जाति मतिलुकळ्‍ तीण्टल्‍ वॆलिकळ्‍ नामेरिच्चु कळञ्ञिटं

विल्लु वण्टियिलेत्ति अय्यन्‍काळि काट्टिय नॆर्‍वऴि

मन्नं एन्न महारथिक्कणि चॆर्‍न्न पातकळ्‍ वीण्टिटं ||२||

 

अन्तणन्‍ मुतल्‍ अन्त्यजन्‍ वरेयुळ्ळ मानवरॆवनुं

वॆद वाङ्‌मयमोन्नु पॊले पकर्‍न्न गुरु चट्टम्पियुं

पन्ति भॊजनमाले तीण्टलोऴिच्चु नीक्कि कऱुप्पनुं

मुन्तिरिक्किणऱालयित्तमोटुक्कि अय्यास्वामियुं ||३||

 

पऱयि पेऱ्ऱु वळर्‍न्न पन्तिरुकुलमतेङ्किलुमॆकर्‍ नां

नम्मिलोऴुकुवतॆक भारत रक्तमेन्नु निनय्क्कणं

वीरकॆरळवर्‍म्म वॆलुत्तम्पि चेम्पिलोररयनुं…

पॊरिल्‍ नॆटियताणु कॆरळ स्वाभिमानमतॊर्‍क्कणं ||४||

 

तुञ्चन्‍ ऒतिय रामकथयिलुणर्‍न्न धार्‍म्मिक कॆरळं

कुञ्चनिल्‍ चिरि तुळ्ळि गाथकळ्‍ पाटि आटिय नाटित

भार्‍ग्गवन्‍ मऴुवालुयर्‍त्तियोरार्‍ष कॆरळ नाटिने

संघ मन्त्रमुरुक्कऴिच्चिनि नां नयिक्कुक नन्मयिल् ||५||

Lyrics in Latin

ādi shaṅkaranātma bōdham uṇar-nnuyar-nnoru kēraḷam

dwaitamilla adwaitamellām enna bōdham udicchiṭam

mātr̥u bhārata pāda pīṭhamitāṇ kēraḷa puṇya bhū

shaktiyum shivanum paraspara nōṭṭam ēṟṟ amarunniṭam ||1||

 

shilaye shivanāy prāṇanēkiya nāṇu guruvin- kēraḷam

jāti matilukaḷ- tīṇṭal- vēlikaḷ- nāmericchu kaḷaññiṭam

villu vaṇṭiyiletti ayyan-kāḷi kāṭṭiya nēr-vaḻi

mannam enna mahārathikkaṇi chēr-nn pātakaḷ- vīṇṭiṭam ||2||

 

antaṇan- mutal- antyajan- vareyuḷḷa mānavarēvanum

vēda vāṅ–mayamonnu pōle pakar-nna guru chaṭṭampiyum

panti bhōjanamāle tīṇṭaloḻicchu nīkki kaṟuppanum

muntirikkiṇaṟālayittamoṭukki ayyāswāmiyum ||3||

 

paṟayi peṟṟu vaḷar-nna pantirukulamateṅkilumēkar- nām

nammiloḻukuvatēka bhārata raktamennu ninaykkaṇam

vīrakēraḷavar-mma vēluttampi chempilorarayanum…

pōril- nēṭiyatāṇu kēraḷa swābhimānamatōr-kkaṇam ||4||

 

tuñchan- ōtiya rāmakathayiluṇar-nna dhār-mmika kēraḷam

kuñchanil- chiri tuḷḷi gāthakaḷ- pāṭi āṭiya nāṭit

bhār-ggavan- maḻuvāluyar-ttiyorār-śha kēraḷa nāṭine

sangha mantramurukkaḻicchini nām nayikkuka nanmayil ||5||

MEANING

This Malayalam poem celebrates the cultural and spiritual heritage of Kerala, India.

This poem’s first stanza highlights Adi Shankara’s influence and the state’s awakening to non-dualistic Advaita philosophy. It describes Kerala as a land deeply connected to its spiritual roots and Mother India, with a harmonious balance of divine forces symbolized by the interplay between Shakti and Shiva. The poem portrays Kerala as a sacred land where spiritual truths are deeply understood, and its connection to India is profound. ||1||

This stanza describes Kerala’s transformation, where the revered Guru (likely Shree Narayana Guru) infused spirituality and life into the stone, symbolizing a profound impact. The poem highlights the breaking down of caste barriers and walls and the arrival of Ayyankali, a social reformer who paved the way for progress. It also mentions Mannathu Padmanabhan, another social reformer who created new paths for the community, symbolizing a journey towards social equality and progress. ||2||

This stanza describes the contributions of several social reformers in Kerala. Shree Narayana Guru is credited with spreading knowledge and unity among people of all castes. Chattampi Swamikal is mentioned for disseminating Vedic knowledge equally to all. Ayyankali is remembered for abolishing untouchability through practices such as communal dining. And Ayyaswami is remembered for ending caste-based restrictions, such as access to wells. Together, these figures are celebrated for their efforts to promote social equality and challenge the caste system in Kerala. ||3||

This stanza celebrates Kerala’s rich heritage, emphasizing unity and shared identity. It mentions the legend of Panthirukulam, where people from different castes were born from a single mother, symbolizing equality and unity. The poem encourages people to recognize that the same Indian blood flows through everyone, honoring heroes like Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja and Velu Thampi Dalawa, who fought for Kerala’s pride and self-respect. It reminds readers that courage and sacrifice are the foundations of regional identity and pride. ||4||

In this last stanza, the poet describes Kerala’s cultural heritage, mentioning the influence of Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, who brought to life the epic Ramayana and instilled moral values. It also references Kunchan Nambiar, who brought joy and humor through his art form, Ottan Thullal. The poem nods to Parasurama, the legendary figure who is said to have raised Kerala. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of guiding the state with noble values and unity inspired by the spirit of the ancient Sangam era. ||5||