Fests on river beds . .

We, the second part of the KutcheriBuzz Team hit the road on Saturday evening. To Thiruvaiyaru.

Off the highway south, celebrations greeted us. Festivals on river beds and around. The buzz remained till we swung left into Ariyalur - a horrible 5 kms and a bit of the same in between but a newly-laid road thence, to our destination.

The mandolin's music - of U P Raju and wife Nagamani welcomed us. The accompanying tavil piercing the 9 p.m. night.

As T N S Krishna paid his tribute on stage we were convinced that the audio was too loud, the floodlights too sharp. Listening to the concerts away from the panda arena was a better experience.

Banks competed with each other in welcoming guests. City Union Bank though is and has been the lead sponsor.

The nadaswaram-tavil artistes took over at 10 p.m. and we walked down, the post-Pournami moon presenting a soothing visual to a long day.