Sevalaya’s 4 Day Bharathiyar Jayanthi celebrations conclude on a high note at Kadayam, Tenkasi
The four-day Bharathiyar Jayanthi celebrations commemorating Mahakavi Bharathiyar’s 144th Birth Anniversary came to a vibrant close on 11 Dec 2025 at Kadayam, Tenkasi.T Arunachalam, Retired Executive Officer, Town Panchayat and President, Kadayam Bharathi Lions Club presided over the function. Arjun Bharathi, Great grandson of Bharathiyar and R Sundar, Chellamma’s nephew graced the event as Chief Guests. Prior to the event, the guests garlanded and paid respects to the statue of the Bharathi-Chellamma couple.
Arunachalam, in his speech, congratulated Sevalaya for its initiatives that celebrate the memory of Bharathiyar. Sethuramalingam, Head of the Kadayam Readers’ Circle, praised Sevalaya’s activities that benefit underprivileged communities. Arjun Bharathi, in his speech, sang a few lines from Bharathiyar poems and highlighted the many layers of meaning in them, illustrating each point with select lines. Sundar, in his speech, expressed his joy at walking through Kadayam, retracing the paths once taken by his aunt Chellamma and Bharathiyar. He also expressed gratitude to the people of
Kadayam who showered him with love and affection. He shared an incident from Bharathiyar’s life: during a visit to the Balasubramania Bhaktha Jana Sabha in Chennai, founded by Thiru Vi Kalyanasundaranar, Bharathiyar sang the song ‘Muruga Muruga’. It is said that those present witnessed Lord Muruga emerged from the portrait in the hall, and many in the audience reportedly fainted from the powerful experience.
A colourful dance performance set to Bharathiyar’s songs and various asanas were performed by dance and yoga students from Sevalaya’s Kalanilayam. In the run-up to the celebrations, competitions were conducted across Tamil Nadu for school
and college students. Around 1,500 students from 11 districts and 150 schools and colleges participated. The Chief Guests presented certificates to the 28 winners of these competitions. The cash prize was deposited directly in the students’ bank accounts by Sevalaya. Certificates were also presented to Sevalaya Kalanilayam students who gave dance and yoga performances.
Earlier V Muralidharan, Founder and Managing Trustee, Sevalaya welcomed the gathering. Retired Headmaster and Sevalaya supporter, K S Kalyani Sivagaminathan delivered the vote of thanks. The guests were presented with mementos. Librarian, Kadayam Branch Library, ‘Nalnoolakar’ Meenakshi Sundaram, various personalities from Kadayam and members of the public participated in the event.
Kadayam is the birthplace of Bharathiyar’s wife Chellamma. In 2022, Sevalaya reconstructed the Kadayam branch library and installed a life-size statue of the Chellamma–Bharathi couple there. Sevalaya has been celebrating Bharathiyar’s birthday and the wedding anniversary of the Chellamma-Bharathi couple every year at Kadayam.
