It's a Sunday – icy chill, no sign of the Sun @ 8.30 am. It has snowed previous evening and a lot of the snow on the walk ways, the path leading upto our pick up shuttle, is now ice and so slippery. Just as the caution advisory was going out, a septuagenarian slipped and fell trying to load a piece of luggage; luckily he was not hurt. One was all the more apprehensive about walking up to the shuttle!!

Sunday was not only going to be a day of performances by veterans, it was also a big day for all the children, or rather for all the parents! Yes! it was the 'prizes day'. It was also the day a goodly number of people would head back home, in time for Monday office. The day starts with Dr RK Srikantan's concert. On a cold Sunday morning this 87 year young man is all ready to start on time. People are slowly trooping in and one wonders as one enters if the hall, which is sparsely populated then, will fill up, particularly because it is a ticketed event. As people settle down and as the 'mike guys' do all the fine tuning, rough tuning etc. the great man sits patiently, unperturbed, unshakeable, like a rock, literally. Atlast the audio set up reaches acceptable levels and the technicians give the thumbs up for a (slightly late) start. The auditorium also is fast filling up and the concert starts and what a start. Its incredible – the voice, the bhava, just awesome!

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The concert, nearly three hours long and three hours of sheer divine music.What an ensemble – vocal support by Ramakanth, Ravikiran on Chitra Veena, mridangam support from Guruvayoor Dorai & Sri Babu. What a Sunday treat!

There was a small break – a break for the audience to discuss the concert, absorb and assimilate. Following this was the announcement and distribution of prizes to the winners of the very many competitions in ever so many categories and sub-categories. Just before the prize distribution, VVS introduced Chennaionine.com and Ravichandran, CEO gave a quick snap shot of COL, while thanking VVS and the committee for the opportunity. The audience liked what they heard and the presentation was greatly appreciated.

The prize distribution roster, naturally quite long – so many prizes – was read out, very enthusiastically by VVS and prizes were distributed by Dr Srikantan and Vellore Ramabadran. (We will get the list of winners and try and publish it ). Prizes distributed and half the people are on their way out of Cleveland!

Some of the late goers for lunch are disappointed, as lunch is closed, but the ever obliging organizers from out of nowhere get thayir sadams for the 10 odd people waiting. It was manna since most food outlets are closed Sunday

The show must go on, irrespective and we move on to Srivalsan Menon's vocal concert, accompanied by Lalgudi Viji, Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan on mridangam and Karthik on the Kanjira. The audience was treated to quality music and it was a Sunday afternoon well spent.

The schedule is punishing, relentless and as one is wondering of taking a break, one sees Kalpagam Swaminathan, a veteran and whom one gets to hear rarely, getting ready to start. Can't take a break, now!

What follows is a great concert – the essence of Veena distilled and delivered! Silken strings, indeed! What is amazing about these senior artistes – advancing in age - is the way they are transformed and the way they transfix the audience the moment they start the concert!

The day is far from over and next on the schedule is Bharatha Natyam by a group of very senior (as in experienced) artistes and children. Smt Radha, Kumari Narthagi, Smt Roja Kannan, Kumaris Abhinaya, Pranathi & Sivasri perform superbly, though it's a bit late by the time the program gets over. Time over runs from the morning add up!

As we retire for the day we get hot rice, vatha kulambu and thayir sadam, served so amilingly and willingly! A hectic Sunday merges into the wee hours of Monday, as we finally retire to bed!!

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