Indian New Year: Music ushers in 2074

Indian New Year, also known as 'Navreh' in Kashmir, 'Gudi Padwa' in Maharashtra and 'Ugadi' in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, was celebrated with much fervour by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), during their three-day festival titled as 'Swagat Parv.'

The event was inaugurated on March 26 with a theatrical presentation on 'Draupadi Antarkatha' by Draupadi Dream Trust, New Delhi. Directed by Neera Mishra, the play portrayed Indian mythological figure, 'Draupadi' as an icon of woman power.

The last day of the festival showcased dance, music and comedy show by SAM Band which is a youth awakening drive of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan; featured a dance-drama on 'Rakht Beej Sanhar' by SAM arts group; Fusion musical concert based on rock music by SAM Band and socially relevant comedy show by Siddharth Sagar who is a well-known personality in Indian television and cinema. Through this event, SAM Band also intends to promote drug abuse eradication and adoption of Indian cultural traditions.

The new year of the Indian calendar, 'Vikram Samvat 2074' is considered to be 56.7 years ahead of the Solar Gregorian Calendar, the most widely used civil calendar. The Hindu New Year is celebrated twice in a year at different times and with different names.

The Hindu calender, which is based on the Solar calendar, is known as 'Puthandu' in Tamil Nadu, 'Bihu' in Assam, 'Pana Sankranti' in Odisha and 'Naba Barsha' in West Bengal. With passage of time, the festivity has lost its original significance.

IGNCA as an organisation works for the promotion and preservation of Indian cultural traditions, arts and heritage. Through this festival, an attempt is being made to revive the lost traditions and especially make the younger generation aware of India's traditional cultural practices.

Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA said, "This is the first time that IGNCA celebrated the Indian Calendar New Year. The three days programmes were representative of the rich cultural tradition of India."

While Draupadi represents the woman power, the SAM band unleashes the youth energy. The concerts on the second day were presented by Pandit Sugato Bhaduri, the only Mandolin exponent in Hindustani Classical Music and Meera Prasad, a well- known Sitar player. Pandit Bhaduri was accompanied on 'Tabla' by Ustad Akram Khan while Pandit Shailendra Mishra supported Meera Prasad on 'Tabla'.