SASTRA holds contest of Tiruppavai–Tiruvempavai recitation

A Thiruppavai–Thiruvempavai recitation contest was organised by SASTRA Deemed University on Sunday at its main campus in Thanjavur and at the Srinivasa Ramanujan Centre in Kumbakonam. The objective of the competition was to instil ethical values and spiritual thinking among students while providing a platform to showcase their innate talents, the organisers said.

At the main campus, students from over 20 schools in Thanjavur and neighbouring areas participated. Srirangam Shri Raman Balaji Bhattachariyar and Thanjavur Sivasri Sivanesan Othuvar were the chief guests and judges. They urged students to draw inspiration from Andal, who composed Tiruppavai, and Manikkavachakar, the author of Thiruvempavai, and to lead lives rooted in faith and moral conviction.

In the senior category, T. Santoshi of Sir Sivasamy Iyer Government Aided Higher Secondary School, Thirukattupalli, won the first prize of ₹3,000. In the junior category, M. Venugasree of Kalyanasundaram Government Aided Higher Secondary School secured the first prize. All participants received a cash incentive of ₹500. Prizes were distributed by Professor Venugopal of SASTRA University.

At the Srinivasa Ramanujan Centre, students from over 17 schools took part. Madhavan Oduvar served as judge and distributed prizes to winners in both categories.