Thrissur: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was presented with a surprise gift by renowned chenda exponent Peruvanam Kuttan Marar when the former visited the Thekkinkad Maidan to listen to the Ilanjithara melam held in connection with the Thrissur Pooram on Wednesday.
The chief minister felicitated Peruvanam with a golden shawl for having completed 20 years as ‘Pramani’ (chief) of Ilanjithara Melam, one of the principal percussion ensembles of Thrissur Pooram. When the maestro expressed his delight and appreciated the gesture, the chief minister whispered in his ear that he was honoured to be present there, even as percussion ensembles pounded out hypnotic rhythms.
When Peruvanam regretfully told Pinarayi that he got nothing to give as a return gift, the latter smiled with folded hands and readied to leave the place. That was when the veteran percussionist took everybody by surprise by gifting him the drum stick with which he had been mesmerizing thousands of percussion aficionados thronged the Thekkinkad Maidan a few minutes ago.
To the query how was he going to perform without a stick, Peruvanam informed the chief minister that he got a spare one. He also escorted Pinarayi out of the venue telling him that it was a gift on behalf of this land.
Later, the chief minister wrote on his Facebook page that Pooram deserved to be recognised at a global level. “A celebration of arts, Pooram brings together our minds with a harmonious blend of colours and sounds. The government will take necessary steps to showcase it before the world. We are also committed to preserving the essence of Pooram,” he stated.
Read: Thrissur News | Kerala News
