Delhi Classical Music started with a grand opening on 23rd November 2019 at Sunder Nursery, Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi. Organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Government’s art and culture wing the last day of the festival, held on 25th November 2019 saw a full house audience.
Representing the melodious journey of Indian classical music with the line-up of eminent artists and their exponential disciples. The first day of the festival was opened by the inaugural performance by the Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on the first day. He played some of Gandhiji’s favourite devotional songs celebrating his 150th birthday. He further thanked Sahitya Kala Parishad team for scheduling his performance as the inaugural act so that his listeners can come and cherish his music. This was followed by the melodious gayaki by noted Hindustani classical vocalist Padma Talwalkar. Pandit Jasraj Ji was supposed to perform at this festival but due to his bad health, he had to give it a miss.
On the second day of the festival, the audience was mesmerized by the talented sister duo Apoorva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi performing a duet. Apoorva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi belong to the eminent family of musicians. They presented a song in Raag Marwa, bada khayal – vilambit taal tilwara, Composed by their guruji Pandit Yeshwant Mahale Ji. This was followed by bandish in Madhya leh and Paramparic Tarana. Following their performance was of Shri Rajendra Prasannawho is a foremost exponent of Bansuri and Shehnai. One of the Top Grade Artist of All India Radio and the recipient of various awards and honours started his performance with an alaap in Raag Bageshwari. He continued with Vilambit ektaal khayal which highlights the blend of his association with Benaras and Rampur. This was followed by a bandish in Teen Taal and ends it with a Jhala. He ends his performance with a pure Pahadi dhun for the audience. He was accompanied by Pandit Abhishek Mishra from Benaras Gharana and Shri Rajesh Prasanna on Tabla and Shahzad Rashid on Tanpura. he evening was culminated with the performance by Padma Shri Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, an Indian classical singer of the dhrupad genre and the son of dhrupad singer Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar.
The last day of the festival started with Pandit Kaivalya Kumar Gaurav’s performance. He started his performance with Raag Puriya Dhanashree Khayal – ‘Ab Na Rahun mein tore nagariya; Taal-ektaal. After this, he presented two bandish in teen taal. He ended his performance with one dadra- ‘Maar dala najariya milaike’. His performance was followed by Pandit Harish Tiwari who is also one of the top-grade artists by ‘All India Radio’. He started his performance by Raag Kalashree composed by his guru Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. ‘Dhan Dhan mangal gao’ in Chautal vilambit. Then he sang Khayal Drut Teentaal “Dhan Dhan Bhag Suhag Tero”. He continued his performance by singing Thumri and ended his performance with a Bhajan. In the end, Pt.Umakant Gundecha, Anant Gundecha and
Akhilesh Gundecha on Pakhawaj took over the stage. They started the performance with Paramparik Alaap in Raag Bageshri and then a dhrupad sung in chautal. The event came to an end with their last performance in Raag Bhairavi in which the trio presented “Hum Sab Mahi” in Sool Taal and in the 10 matra cycle.
Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, shared his views on the event, “I am happy that Delhi audience is accepting such events with open arms that we had to now come out of the capacity of 600-700 seats of Kamani auditorium and organize the Delhi Classical Music Festival at Sundar Nursery where around 1500 people came to attend. We hope this love for Indian Culture and Heritage continues for generations to come.”