24-year-old Asha creates history by performing Sopana Sangeetham songs penned by her father

THRISSUR: Asha Suresh, a native of Irinjalakuda is making history by performing Sopana Sangeetham carrying the idakka. Many temples opened their doors for Asha to sing Sopana Sangeetham, which were considered taboo for women.

She also got an opportunity to sing a song penned by her father Suresh Kumar about the presiding deity of the Koodalmanikyam temple at the festival stage of the temple.

Suresh Kumar retired from Merchant Navy. He has a habit of writing poetry, but he has never published it. Suresh Kumar wrote Sopana songs praising Lord Shiva, Ganapathy, Subramanian and Lord Ayyappa. It was sung in more than 100 temples and had the good fortune to perform during worship at more than 25 temples.

24-year-old Asha also sang in the Sopanam at the Varanapilly Shiva temple in Kayamkulam, which is associated with Sree Narayana Guru, last year. She was also invited for Facebook live by the devotees in America and London. Asha also performed in more than 150 programs like this.

When she was 3-years-old, she was sent back by Carnatic musicians saying that she had no sense of music. So, she turned to Aksharshlokam. It was her teacher Nandakumar Marar who gave her an opportunity in idakka. She made her debut in Iringalakuda Vellanallur Shiva Temple Sopanam while studying in 6th standard.

She came first in the Aksharashlokam four times in the State school kalolsavam and nine times in the Guruvayur Devaswom’s Narayaneeya Parayana competition.

Asha, who is studying for B.Ed after graduation and studying library science, teaches children Bhagavad Gita and Narayaneeyam at home.