On January 15, 2026, the Holy Family CGHSS in Thrissur hosted the Chenda Melam (HSS) competition. The air buzzed with the frantic beats of Panchari melam and the tough rhythms of Adantha melam. However, the crowd was surprisingly small as the morning unfolded. K.V. Manoj, principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Vaduvanchal, said, "Especially since percussion art is celebrated here, we expected more people to come and encourage the young performers. If the event was held at the main venue, maybe more people would have come out to watch." M.I. Haseena, a teacher from Palakkad attending the festival, added, "While we are excited to watch these percussion performances, the people of Thrissur may opt for something else, the sheer reason being familiarity. They are used to the art form, so they might choose to watch other arts." Despite fewer spectators, the spirited performances did not lose their charm. Three-year-old Manav Krishna tapped twig sticks eagerly, trying to match the beats. Backstage, performers prepared to take the stage, swaying gently with the rhythms. Twins K.V. Anjitha and K.V. Anjana, 17-year-old students from GHSS Vaduvanchal, shared their passion: "You don’t see a lot of women playing the instrument," said Anjana. "I have always wanted to learn this. It is exhilarating." Students even attempted the challenging Adantha melam. Sreehari Vinod of St. Joseph’s BHSS, Kozhikode, explained, "We need to get the coordination and rhythm right, so it takes a lot of practice. We were attempting the much difficult Adantha melam. We wanted to stay clear of the usual melam and try something different." The modest crowd enjoyed the exciting display of percussion, while performers poured palpable energy into every beat. The event reflected Thrissur’s deep love for chenda melam, even when the audience was small.