Tag: Chandigarh

Date: 12th & 13th January 2024

Time: 6:30PM

Venue: Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh

The two-day special musical program Virasat, jointly organized by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Kalashree Delhi, and Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Academy, enthralled art lovers at Tagore Theatre with a magnificent display of classical dance and soulful music.

The inaugural day was dedicated to classical dance forms, beginning with a graceful Kathak performance by the repertory of Kalashree, choreographed by renowned Kathak exponent Dr. Kavita Thakur. Their presentation, Anavarat, beautifully depicted the balance between tradition and modernity. At the same time, their unique composition, KathakYog, blended the elegance of Kathak with the discipline of Yoga, leaving the audience spellbound.

Following this, Bharatanatyam virtuoso Samrat Dutta took centre stage, portraying life’s journey through the divine manifestations of the Goddess. The evening concluded with an expressive Odissi recital by Swapna Rani Sinha and her senior disciples. Swapna’s solo rendition of Navarasas—the nine essential emotions in dance—was deeply evocative. At the same time, Anisha and Anushka captivated the audience with a duet depicting Radha-Krishna’s eternal love. The program concluded with a powerful Agni Stuti set to Raag Malika.

The event was inaugurated with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony in the esteemed presence of Shri S.S. Parmar, IAS (Retd.), former Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, as Chief Guest, and eminent Sitar maestro Pt. Harvinder Sharma as Guest of Honor. The occasion was also graced by Sh. Sajal Koser, Secretary of Pracheen Kala Kendra, Dr Shobha Koser, Registrar, and Dr Samira Koser, Deputy Registrar, along with distinguished guests including Dr Sanjay Sharma, Bhimsen Sharma, and Dr Sunil Malhotra, who were felicitated for their contributions to the arts.

A minute’s silence was observed in tribute to Ustad Rashid Khan Sahib before the performances began. At the end of the evening, Kathak Guru Dr Shobha Koser honoured the participating artists.

The concluding day of Virasat celebrated the rich musical heritage of India, culminating in an energetic display of Punjab’s folk traditions—renowned Chandigarh-based instrumentalist Pt. Subhash Ghosh mesmerized the audience with his performance on the Saraswani, a unique instrument of his creation, blending elements of Sitar, Sarod, and Veena. A disciple of Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ghosh Ji, an ‘A’ grade artist of AIR and Doordarshan, opened his recital with Raag Bihag, skillfully weaving Alaap, Jhala, and intricate Layakari, and later paid tribute to Ustad Rashid Khan Sahib through a soulful presentation in Raag Saraswati. His concluding piece—a folk melody of Punjab in celebration of Lohri—was met with thunderous applause, accompanied flawlessly by Delhi’s young tabla sensation Zaheen Khan.

The evening reached its vibrant climax with a high-energy Bhangra performance under the direction of Peter Sodhi. Dressed in colourful traditional attire, the dancers infused the auditorium with electrifying energy, their rhythmic footwork and dhol beat setting the stage ablaze. The dynamic display of Punjab’s folk spirit left the audience spellbound.

At the closing ceremony, Secretary of Pracheen Kala Kendra Sh. Sajal Koser, Kathak Guru and Registrar Dr. Shobha Koser, Program Curator Dr. Kavita Thakur, and CSNA Chairman Sh. Sudesh Sharma honoured all participating artists, marking the successful conclusion of Virasat. This festival truly celebrated India’s rich musical and dance heritage.