Turning to the classics

If music be the food for your soul, you may want to lend your ear to Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav, starting today in the city.

If music be the food for your soul, you may want to lend your ear to Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav, starting today in the city. The festival has about 10 classical singers and dancers including renowned names like tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, singers Rajan Sajan Mishra and Shubha Mudgal performing live over three days.

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Started in Vrindavan in 1981, the festival moved to Delhi in 1991 to reach a wider audience. “I hope to revive the interest of the youth in classical arts,” says Uma Sharma, the Kathak dancer who’s ­organising the festival in the Capital for the last 22 years.

Since Swami Haridas was a Krishna devotee, expect a liberal dose of Krishna hymns and ragas. While Hindustani classical singer Shubha Mudgal will be ­singing Khayal and Thumri compositions that she is well known for, Grammy winning artist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt will be playing compositions inspired by the Raas and Shringar leela of Krishna on his Mohan Veena (slide guitar). A Tigalbandi between Bhatt’s classical tunes with folk music by Manganiars of Rajasthan and Kathak by danseuse Uma Sharma is touted to be the highlight of the finale. You can also gorge on traditional delicacies like bedmi poori aloo and adrak wali chai as you listen to some soulful tunes.

Catch it live
What: Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet — Nritya Mahotsav
When: January 16-18
Time: 6:30pm onwards
Where: Shankar Lal Hall, Modern school, Barakhamba Road
Nearest Metro Station: Barakhamba Road on Blue Line