The origins of the Bengaluru-based Sree Ramaseva Mandali Ramanavami Celebrations Trust, which was founded in 1939 by S. V. Narayanaswamy Rao, can be traced to a roadside pavement. At the time, a survey of the cultural scene, particularly in the old Mysore region, showed that out of India’s many religious festivals, only Ramanavami and Ganesh Chaturthi were celebrated on a large scale with great community participation. This led to the staging of the Fort Sree Ramanavami Global Music Festival. Since then, the organisation and the festival have gained wide recognition and admiration from artists, scholars and music lovers across the country. In 2001, the Trust was awarded the Government of Karnataka\u2019s Rajyotsava Award.<\/p>\n\n\n