Witness Indian Classical Music in All its glory

Some of the most revered stalwarts of the Indian classical music including Pt Bhajan Sopori, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt Jasraj, and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan will be among a host of exponents of different classical traditions, who will converg in the national Capital for one of the biggest classical music festivals held in the country.

To be held at Kamani Auditorium from November 2-5, the Festival of Classical Indian Music is organised by Department of Art, Culture & Languages, government of Delhi and Sahitya Kala Parishad.

From the mellifluous sounds of Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia’s flute to the euphonious play of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s sarod, the four-day festival has everything to mesmerize the connoisseurs of Indian music. The festival will showcase nine artists over four days with an interesting mix of senior and venerated artists and fresh talent.

The festival will begin with vocal rendition of Sangeet Samragini Begum Parween Sultana and a Santoor performance from Pt Bhajan Sopori. Parween Sultana is renowned for her majestic voice and was awarded the Padma Shri for the same in 1976. She was also honored by the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in the year 1999 and by the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award in 2014. Pandit Bhajan Sopori, on the other hand, has done unparalleled work in taking the beautiful music of Santoor to different corners of the world. The maestro has taught music at Washington University and was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1993 and the Padma Shri in 2004.

“The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition dating back to 1500 BCE. However, over the centuries, our music has incorporated inputs from multiple sources and has enriched itself with confluence of different traditions that met in the 

Indian subcontinent. Our instruments have held their own even in times of digital and techno driven musical instruments. Indian classical music is a true representative of our rich identity,” says Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia.

“In recent years there has been an animated debate on whether our classical music is losing out to the modern pop culture. However, when I see young music enthusiasts eager to learn our classical traditions and keen to master their hands in it, I feel confident of a bright future for our indigenous music. We need more such festivals to encourage young talent on the scene,” says Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

The second evening of the festival will host performances from Pt Rajan-Sajan Mishra duo and Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia. Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra are accomplished singers of the khyal style of Indian classical music while Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia needs no introduction as one of India’s most renowned flutist.

The third evening will begin with a Sitar and Sarod (Duet) recital by Lakshay Mohan and Ayush Mohan Gupta; this will be followed by Sitar recital by Ustad Saeed Zafar Khan and vocal recital will be by renowned classical music vocalist Pt Jasraj.

The festival will end on November 5 with a vocal recital by Ashwini Bhide Deshpande and sarod recital by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.