Maestros to popularise Hindustani Classical Music

The Art, Culture and Language Department of the Delhi government under Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia will hold a 3-day Delhi Classical Music Festival, from November 23-25, at the Sundar Nursery, Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi, 6 pm onwards.

This festival will solely celebrate Hindustani Classical Music where as for Karnatic Classical Music, a separate programme will be organised.

"Delhi Classical Music Festival is being organised on a grand scale for the past few years. It is pleasure to see the enthusiasm of the audience to attend such musical event. I hope this year as well, the audience will accept the event with open arms and help us promote the Hindustani classical music on a much bigger platform. My warm wishes to all the artists performing this year," said Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

On the first day, there will be performances by very renowned Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Later in the evening, the melodious Padma Talwalkar will also present her vocals.

On second day of the festival, artists like Apoorva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi will perform a duet. Apoorva Gokhale has a firm background of Gwalior Gharana and has inherited the musical qualities from the late Gayanacharya Pandit Gajananrao Joshi and her great-grandfather Pandit Antubua Joshi, an eminent court musician in the erstwhile state of Aundh, district Satara.

Following her performance will be Rajendra Prasanna's show. Prasanna is a foremost exponent of Bansuri and Shehnai. The evening will culminate with the performance by Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, an Indian classical singer of the dhrupad genre and the son of dhrupad singer Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010.

The last day of the festival will witness performance by renowned artists Kaivalya Kumar Gaurav. He is a third-generation singer from the Kirana Gharana. His performance will be followed by another great artist Pandit Harish Tiwari. Born in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, Pandit Harish Tiwari started his musical journey under the guidance of Guru Thakur Choubey.

The festival will come to an end with a mesmerising performance by Vidushi Kaushiki Chakraborty, an Indian classical vocalist who was groomed at Sangeet Research Academy. She is one of the exponents of Patiala Gharana and her singing repertoire covers Khyals and Thumris.