[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           SALUTING THE ORGANIZERS OF THE THYAGARAJA FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 1998

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the 
dedicated work of an extraordinary group of citizens in my 
Congressional District. For the past twenty years, the Music Department 
at Cleveland State University and other volunteers under the direction 
of Dr. T. Temple Tuttle, have organized and hosted the Thyagaraja 
Festival. This festival has brought musicians from Asia, Africa, 
Europe, and Australia to perform in the City of Cleveland and have 
their traditional art forms, cultures, and values celebrated and 
honored by political and educational leaders. The event also offers 
attendees the opportunity to experience an array of truly exceptional 
cultural performances. Audiences have come from as far as Alaska to 
enjoy these festivities.
  In its 21st year, over one hundred volunteers assisted with food 
preparation and arrangements for the festival. The festival will 
highlight the Chief Guest, Sri Mukherjee, and the great vocalist, T.N. 
Seshagopalan will be honored as ``Sangeetha Rathnakara,'' a high 
honorific meaning ``Jewel of a Performer.'' In addition to the 
scheduled performers, who will come from India this year, 70 to 100 
amateur performers are expected, and a crowd of over two thousand.
  Mr. Speaker, the Thyagaraja Festival stands as a recognized 
commitment to international unity and an appreciation for the beauty of 
cultural diversity and artistic expression. Again, I salute the 
organizers of the 1998 Thyagaraja Festival for creating an opportunity 
for the City of Cleveland and our great nation to participate in an 
event whose ultimate objective is to increase multi-cultural awareness 
and acceptance, and secure global peace.

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