Virasat Art and Heritage Festival Hosts Exciting Painting Competition and Treasure Hunt Program
• At Virasat, Shinjini Kulkarni Mesmerizes the Audience with Her Kathak Dance Performance.
• Virasat Presents the Eloquent Hindustani Classical Music of Brajeshwar Mukherjee.
• The Niazi Brothers, Renowned Qawwali Artists, Enchant Dehradun’s Heritage Enthusiasts at Virasat.
Dehradun, November 8, 2023 – The 13th day of the Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023 commenced with a vibrant painting competition and an engaging treasure hunt organized by Kalpana Sharma. The theme for the painting competition was “My City, My Heritage,” which sparked enthusiasm and joy among the participating children. Numerous schools, including Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC, Doon Presidency School Premnagar, Hill Foundation School, Sun Valley School, St. Jude’s School, Doon International School, SGRR Public School Balawala, Doon Sarala Academy, Touch Wood School, Whizkid International Senior Secondary School, Asra Trust, and Philphot, actively participated in the program. Over 400 children from various schools, such as Public School, Latika Foundation, Treasurer Shikar, Hill Foundation School, Doon International School, SGRR Public School Balawala, and Whizkid International Senior Secondary School, participated with great enthusiasm. At the conclusion of the program, all participants were honored with prizes and certificates.
The cultural festivities of the day were inaugurated by Rajeev Kumar Singh, AG (A&E), Dehradun, and Shri R.K. Singh, General Secretary of REACH Heritage, along with other dignitaries, who lit the ceremonial lamp.
The first performance of the cultural program featured a spellbinding Kathak dance by Shinjini Kulkarni. She began her performance with a mesmerizing rendition of Shiva Vandana, followed by traditional shuddha dances in 3 taal and 4 taal, and a Dadra composition from her gharana, composed by her great-grandfather, Pandit Bingari Maharaj. Shubh Maharaj accompanied her on the tabla, Zoheb Haseen on vocals, Vishal Mishra on sitar, Sameer Khana on the flute, and Siya Verma in singing.
Shinjini Kulkarni, born into the illustrious Kalka Bindadin dynasty’s ninth generation, is the granddaughter of the Kathak legend Pandit Birju Maharaj. She embarked on her Kathak journey at the tender age of three, receiving initial training from her aunt, Mamta Maharaj, who imparted the basics to all family children. Later, Birju Maharaj became her guru, and subsequently, her elder brother, Pt. Jaikishan Ji Maharaj, continued her training. Shinjini gracefully carries the weight of this rich legacy, emphasizing that the entire Kathak community shares in this cultural heritage.
In addition to her impressive dancing skills, Shinjini is a distinguished academic, having recently completed her graduation in History Honors from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. While excelling in her studies, she has maintained her commitment to Kathak and has graced prestigious festivals like the Khajuraho Dance Festival, Sankat Mochan Festival, Taj Mahotsav, Chakradhar Festival, Kalidas Mahotsav, and Kathak Mahotsav, among others. She has performed both solo and in group shows across various cities in India and abroad, including New York, San Francisco, Houston, Minneapolis, Bangkok, and Tehran. Throughout her brief career, Shinjini has received warm appreciation and blessings from her audiences.
Her association with Bollywood, like her maternal grandfather, has been notable. She has appeared in films such as Muzaffar Ali’s “Jaanisaar,” the Bengali film “Har Har Byomkesh,” and a Bhojpuri film alongside Ravi Kishan. Notably, Shinjini has spoken at two TEDx events, where her powerful thoughts and speeches have inspired many. She is also a member of the pure classical-based percussion band “Layakari.” Shinjini has had the privilege of being a part of her grandfather’s choreography in productions like Nritya Kelly, Editing, Holi Utsav, Krishnayana, and Loha. Her accolades include the 2018 Young Talent Award from the Tarana Foundation in New Delhi, the title of Nritya Shiromani at the International Cuttack Dance Festival in 2017, and the Parampara Samman from Kala Niketan, Jaipur, among others. In 2015, she was honored with the prestigious Smt. Krisha Hangal Memorial Award, recognizing her as an emerging talent in the realm of Indian classical music and dance.
The second segment of the cultural program showcased Hindustani classical music by Brajeshwar Mukherjee. He opened his performance with Raga Bhupali, followed by Raga Kamod and two enchanting thumris, “Jo Yaad Piya Ki Aye” and “Ka Karoon Sajni Piya Na Aaye.” Accompanying Brajeshwar Mukherjee were Pandit Dharmanath Jha on tabla, Pandit Dharmanath Mishra on harmonium, and Nitin Sharma and Saloni Rawat on tanpura.
Brajeshwar Mukherjee, a renowned Hindustani classical singer from Kolkata, India, received his early music education from his parents and further honed his skills under the guidance of Asit Roy from the Bishnupur Gharana. He currently studies under the tutelage of the renowned Pt. Ajay Chakraborty. Brajeshwar has made significant contributions to radio programs, stage performances, and album releases. His accolades include the ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the ‘Dhananjay Smriti Puraskar’ from the University of Calcutta, the ‘Shrutinandan’ Award from the Shrutinandan Institute, and the ‘Gana Vardhan’ from Pune.
Brajeshwar Mukherjee is a B-High grade regular artist of All India Radio, Kolkata. He has shared his musical knowledge, leaving a lasting impact on many lives. He serves as a junior guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy and Shrutinandan, two highly reputed institutions known as temples of music in India. His efforts have been instrumental in promoting the universal appeal of music, transcending borders and reaching the hearts of people worldwide.
The third segment of the cultural program featured a captivating Qawwali performance by the Niazi Bandhu. They opened with Qawwali written by Amir Khusro, followed by soul-stirring renditions of “Kripa Karo Maharaj,” “Sanson Ki Mala,” “Chhaap Tilak,” “Ishq Mein Tere Kohe Gham,” and a lively performance of “Rang Ha Reema.” The Niazi Bandhu were accompanied by Majid Niazi, Mukram Niazi, and Hamid Niazi on chorus and main vocals, Bosin on keyboard, Wasif on dholak, and Vijay on tabla.
Hailing from the renowned Rampur Gharana, the Niazi Brothers, Shahid Niazi and Sami Niazi, have earned international acclaim for their versatile musical talents, spanning Qawwali, Naat, Ghazal, Bhajan, Geet, Folk, and more. They proudly carry on the 250-year-old tradition of Qawwali from the Rampur Gharana, emphasizing Qawwali as “Rooh-e-Ghiza” (food for the soul), a form of music created in the 13th century by Amir Khusro Dehlavi. Their performances transcend boundaries, fusing Indian, Persian, Turkish, and Arabic musical traditions.
Shubh ji, the tabla player, was born into a family of musicians and is the grandson of the renowned tabla player Shri Kishan Maharaj. His father, Mr. Vijay Shankar, is a celebrated Kathak dancer, and Shubh inherited his musical talents from both sides of his family. Trained under the guidance of his maternal grandfather, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, Shubh joined the traditional family lineage of Shri Kanthe Maharaj. At the age of 12, in the year 2000, he gave his first tabla solo performance, marking the beginning of a musical journey that led him to perform across India and collaborate with luminaries such as Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. His performances have graced prestigious stages like Saptak (Ahmedabad), Sankat Mochan Mahotsav (Varanasi), Ganga Mahotsav (Varanasi), Baba Hariballab Sangeet Mahasabha (Jalandhar), Spike Mackey (Kolkata), and Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya (Lucknow).
The Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023, running from October 27 to November 10, offers a unique platform for people to immerse themselves in the arts, culture, and music presented by renowned masters of classical music and dance. The festival has attracted famous artists to perform, and it features a crafts village, cuisine stalls, an art fair, folk music, Bollywood-style performances, heritage walks, and more. This festival provides an opportunity for people across the country to delve deeper into India’s rich cultural heritage and its significance. Every facet of the festival, including art exhibitions, musical performances, food offerings, and heritage walks, reflects the traditional values associated with Indian heritage.
REACH, founded in 1995 in Dehradun, has been organizing the Virasat Mahotsav, with the primary aim of preserving India’s artistic, cultural, and heritage values and sharing these cultural treasures with the public. The Heritage Festival has played a pivotal role in reviving endangered rural arts, breathing new life into village traditions, music, dance, crafts, painting, sculpture, theater, storytelling, and traditional cuisine. This effort has brought classical and contemporary arts to the forefront and garnered recognition from diverse audiences.
Virasat 2023 promises to captivate and guide attendees on an unforgettable journey through music and culture.
For more information, please contact Vikas Kumar at 8057409636.