Capital pays tribute to music stalwart

The largest conglomeration of Indian classical music lovers in this country, 'Swami Haridas-Tansen' music festival concluded on a successful note in the national capital.

The festival featured maestros of Hindustani classical music like Uma Sharma, Parveen Sultana (Vocal), Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash (Sarod), Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (Vocal), Gundecha Brothers (Vocal), Ustad Aashish Khan (Sarod), Bickram Ghosh (Tabla), Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Dr Uma Sharma (Kathak) and others.

Padam Bhushan Dr Uma Sharma performed a three sequence dance drama based on the eternal love between Radha and Krishna in Thumri style. In between her sequences, she described her act to the audience.

Talking about her personal experience Padam Bhushan Parveen Sultana said, "Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav is a reputed classical musical event being organised for nearly two decades now. I have been performing in the national capital for the last seven-eight years and it has always been a pleasure to be a part of it."

Bikram Ghosh, A well-known tabla player, known to create magic spells in Indo-fusion genre performed 'Drums of India' with three other percussionists. This craft has been performed across the world and has been highly appreciated by the non-Hindustani audience.

Janardan Dwivedi, General Secretary Congress Party, Dr K K Aggarwal, Former President Indian Medical Association, Dr Suresh K Goyal, Vinay Bharat Ram, Chairman, DCM Group, Dr Ashok Pratap Singh and Dr Raj Shekhar Vyas were present on stage for the inauguration along with Dr Uma Sharma, Festival Director.

Bangash brothers, who have performed umpteen times in the festival, chose to dedicate the evening to the spiritual patron of this festival – Swami Haridas.

Subtle variations in vibrations of their performance created a virtual time-warp.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma rendered the sweet and calming melody of raga Gorakh Kalyan, usually performed after sunset. Sharma's performance elicited multiple rounds of applause.

Giving another treat to the audience, Dr Uma Sharma performed enigmatic synchronisation of Kathak over Chhannulal Mishra's Dadri 'Rangi Sari Gulabi Chunaria Re!'

Dr Ashwini Bhide Deshpande recited raga Purva Kalyan followed by her ever melodious sequences of Thumri.

Speaking post her performance, Ashwini said, "The sammelan attracts very elite and knowledgeable audiences of Delhi and that's why it's always a pleasure to perform here."

This was followed by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, winner of the Grammy's and Pandit Salil Bhatt (his son) performing together to enthrall the audience. The flow of positivity reverberated indoors by the very special jugalbandi between Mohan Veena and Satvik Veena on raga Vishwaranjani developed by Pandit Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Addressing the audience at the event, Arun Goel, Union Secretary, Culture, Government of India, said, "I convey my best wishes to Uma and heartiest congratulations for successfully organising this grand event. As I have been told; it's a grand festival of sangeet and nritya. She's a legend of Kathak and served the Indian culture for decades. However, being an artist is one thing and being an organiser is entirely different. It is not easy to organise a festival of this scale. This requires a lot of dedication and commitment. I hope that this festival goes on for decades."

Another presentation by Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan, was the highlight of this festival. Audience were found surrendered to euphoric tunes of his sitar.

The four-day musical extravaganza culminated on a high note with none other than Ustad Amjad Ali Khan whose sublime sarod performance was everything you would wish to witness during a cultural festival.