Posted on 2 September 2026:
Mayilpeeli Puraskar 2026: Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Honors Carnatic Maestro Yogeesha Sharma Ballapadavu with a Grand Classical Concert
A celebration of devotion, artistry and the timeless spirit of Carnatic music unfolds at Chozhiyakkadu on 3rd September 2026.
An Evening Woven in Music and Reverence
Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Chozhiyakkadu, Kottayam, Kerala, prepares to host an evening of extraordinary grace on 3 September 2026.
As part of the revered Bhagavatha Sapthaham, the temple will confer the prestigious “Mayilpeeli Puraskar 2026” — an honor instituted by the Chozhiyakkad Sri Krishna Swami Devaswom to recognise and celebrate distinguished practitioners of music, dance and instrumental artistry.
This year, the honour finds a most deserving recipient in Ganapraveena Yogeesha Sharma Ballapadavu, whose lifelong devotion to Carnatic classical music has illuminated stages across India and beyond.
The felicitation ceremony will take place on Thursday, 3rd September 2026, at 7:00 PM, followed by a soul-stirring Carnatic Classical Concert at 7:30 PM — an evening promising to be as musically rich as it is spiritually resonant.
Celebrating a Torchbearer of Carnatic Tradition
Few artistes embody the quiet majesty of Carnatic classical music as fully as Ganapraveena Yogeesha Sharma Ballapadavu.
A distinguished torchbearer of this ancient tradition, he has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards and is celebrated for his artistry across Sangeetha Sabhas both in India and abroad, having enthralled audiences from Dubai and Kuwait to Chennai, Mumbai and beyond.
Yet his contribution extends far past the concert stage. Through the esteemed Veenavadini Sangeetha Vidyapeetam, founded in his native Ballapadavu, he has devoted himself to nurturing young talent and popularising pure classical music, ensuring that its vibrant resonance continues to echo through generations. A versatile vocalist, prolific composer, and dedicated cultural steward, his journey is a testament not only to personal excellence but to a lifelong mission — carrying the timeless voice of Carnatic music across boundaries of geography, faith, and tradition.
It is this rare confluence of artistry and service that the Mayilpeeli Puraskar 2026 seeks to honour, recognising a musician who has given his life to the preservation and propagation of India’s classical heritage.
The Concert: An Ensemble of Rare Distinction
Following the felicitation, the evening will unfold into a Carnatic Classical Concert featuring a remarkable ensemble of accomplished artistes:
- Vocal: Ganapraveena Yogeesha Sharma Ballapadavu
- Violin: Sri Balaji Subramanian, Ettumanoor
- Mridangam: Dr. Akash Krishnan, Kottayam
- Ghatam: Prof. Unnikrishnan, Kottayam
- Samarpanam: Sri Venkatachalamurthy, Ernakulam
Together, this ensemble promises an evening of intricate ragas, rhythmic brilliance and the kind of musical communion that only Carnatic tradition can offer — a fitting tribute to an artiste who has spent decades honoring that very tradition.
A tribute to tradition rooted in devotion — join the honour and harmony on 3rd September.
