Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023 Kicks off Day 6 with Virasat Sadhana Program

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• The ‘Abhyas Group’ Enthralls with Kathak Dance Performance at Heritage

• International Artists from South Africa Deliver a Mesmerizing Jugalbandi Showcasing Indian and South African Dances at Heritage

• Kaushiki Chakraborty Presents Indian Classical Music Excellence at Virasat

Dehradun, November 1, 2023 – The sixth day of the Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023 dawned with the captivating Virasat Sadhana program, marking a day of rich cultural experiences and artistic brilliance.

Commencing the day was a Kathak dance performance, presented by the renowned ‘Abhyas Group,’ held at the Heritage venue. This artistic offering set the tone for an eventful day, filled with extraordinary performances.

Adding an international flavor to the festival, artists from South Africa graced the Heritage stage and presented a mesmerizing Jugalbandi, a fusion of Indian and South African dance traditions. The cultural tapestry continued to unfold with a scintillating presentation of Indian classical music by the accomplished Kaushiki Chakraborty at the Virasat venue.

The Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023 has proven to be a significant platform for school children to exhibit their talents. Today, participants enthralled the audience with their exceptional dance performances.

In the dance category, school and university students showcased their talents, wowing the audience with a variety of classical and contemporary performances. Notable participants included Kriti Yadav of Graphic Era University, Shrishti Joshi of Doon University, Pakshila Verma of Ghunghru Kathak Music College, Ritvi Arya of Doon International, Nandani Bist of New Doon Blossoms School, Ananya Singh of Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC, Samridhi Nautiyal of Dehradun National Academy of Defense, Aishwarya Pokhriyal of Heritage School North Campus, Tamanna Rawat of Scholars Hub Defense Institute, Arpita Thapli of PYDS Learning Academy, Preksha Mittal of Doon Global School, Devyanshi Chauhan of Modern Public School, Avni Gupta of Delhi Public School Dehradun, Himanshi of The Dun Presidency School Premnagar, Ojaswini Bhatt of Social Baluni Public School, Anushka Chauhan of Hill Foundation School, and Molashree Rana of Philfot Public School Dehradun.

Shri Ghanshyam Ji, the organizer of Virasat Sadhana, honored the participants with certificates, providing them with a well-deserved boost of encouragement.

The cultural program for the day commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, graced by esteemed guests, including Dr. Nishat Mishra, Dean, UPES; Anand Bardhan, IAS; Raja Randhir Singh, Interim President of the Olympic Council of Asia; and Mr. R.K. Singh, General Secretary of REACH Virasat, along with other distinguished members.

The first presentation featured the ‘Abhyas Group,’ who enthralled the audience with a delightful performance. The presentation included Ganpati Vandana by Krishna Mohan Maharaj Ji, Darbari Kathak dance in a royal court setting, a dance performance on Ghazal, a Tarana, and a Sufi Kalam, featuring ‘Ameer Chhap Tilak’ by Khusru. Meenu Garu, Heena Bhasin, Jaya Pathak, Nidhi Bhardwaj, Neha Bhagat, Devika Dixit, and Akshika Syal showcased their remarkable skills. Pandit Krishna Mohan Maharaj, belonging to the prestigious Kalka Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow, led the ‘Abhyas’ group, an association dedicated to art, culture, and social welfare.

The second performance of the day featured the Tribhangi Dance Theatre, a dance ensemble hailing from South Africa. Their energetic performance celebrated the long-standing African-Indian cultural relationship, with Priya Naidu, Teamletso Khalane, Caroline Govender, Montusi Motseko, Tibaho Mogotsi, and Solomon Skosana, skillfully choreographed by event director Jaysperi Moopen.

The work of Tribhangi Dance Theatre continues to challenge preconceived notions of Indian dance in the South African context, blending various dance styles in an intercultural dialogue that promotes nation-building and social cohesion while respecting and showcasing diverse cultures. Under the visionary leadership of Jaysperi Moopen, Tribhangi Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company committed to creating and performing original South African choreography. Their primary focus is on creating new work and nurturing the talents of dancers and collaborators in the creative process. The company firmly believes that art significantly contributes to human, social, and economic development, and their artists are actively defining their identity within the South African context, blending elements of Bharatanatyam, African, and contemporary dance.

Despite secondary migration to Britain from newly independent countries such as Uganda and Kenya, many South Asians chose to make South Africa their home, with approximately 1.3 million people of South Asian heritage now residing in the country. The fusion of these cultural influences, as exemplified by Tribhangi Dance Theatre, goes beyond mere entertainment, leaving a lasting impact and positive energy.

Artistic Director Jayaspery Moopen views the company’s mission as an exploration and reimagining of what Indian dance can be. The artists, rooted in both Indian and African heritages, bring their mastery of traditional and contemporary dance forms to the stage.

The third presentation of the cultural program featured Kaushiki Chakraborty, who began her performance with Raga Yaman Kalyan. Accompanied by Murad Ali on Sarangi, Ishan Ghosh on Tabla, Paromita Mukherjee on Harmonium, and Aditi Bacheti and Srishti Kala on Tanpura, Kaushiki Ji delivered a captivating rendition of Indian classical music.

Kaushiki Chakraborty, a celebrated Indian classical singer and composer, boasts a rich musical background and repertoire, including pure classical, khayal, dadra, thumri, and various other forms of Indian music. Her notable achievements include receiving three awards from BBC Radio in 2005 for World Music in the Asia-Pacific category. Kaushiki is the daughter of the esteemed Hindustani classical singer, Ajoy Chakraborty, and has also collaborated with her husband, Parthasarathy Desikan. In 2020, she was honored with the Nari Shakti Award and is well-versed in Carnatic classical singing.

Kaushiki Ji’s journey into the world of music began at a young age, and her remarkable talents were evident when she sang her first public tarana at the age of 7. She continued to accompany her father on world tours of musical performances, gaining valuable experience and knowledge. Under the guidance of her father and eminent music scholars, Kaushiki Ji honed her skills at various music academies and schools, excelling in both Khayal and Thumri forms of music. Her career has seen her perform at prestigious events such as the Dover Lane Music Conference, Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Music Festival, and Parampara Program, earning her recognition as a torchbearer of the Patiala tradition.

Kaushiki Ji has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Jadoo Bhatt Award in 1995, the Outstanding Young Person Award in 2000, and the prestigious BBC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music in 2005. Her contribution to Hindustani Vocal Music earned her the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Award in 2010 and the Aditya Birla Kalakiran Award in 2013.

The festival also featured the accomplished tabla player, Shubh Ji, who hails from a family deeply rooted in music. As the grandson of tabla maestro Shri Kishan Maharaj and the son of the renowned Kathak dancer Mr. Vijay Shankar, Shubh inherited a rich musical legacy. He commenced his tabla journey at a tender age under the guidance of his maternal grandfather, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, and later joined the traditional lineage of Shri Kanthe Maharaj. Shubh Ji, at the age of 12, presented his inaugural tabla solo performance and subsequently embarked on a tour across India, showcasing his talent. His remarkable journey led him to accompany eminent artists such as Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Shubh Ji has graced prestigious stages, including 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, taking place from October 27 to November 10, has emerged as a vibrant platform for art, culture, and music enthusiasts. The festival showcases the talents of renowned masters of classical music and dance, drawing famous artists to participate. Attendees can enjoy a crafts village, cuisine stalls, an art fair, folk music, Bollywood-style performances, heritage walks, and more. This festival offers people from across the country an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of India, celebrating its traditional values through various aspects, including art exhibitions, musical performances, culinary delights, and heritage walks.

REACH, founded in 1995 in Dehradun, is dedicated to preserving India’s art, culture, and heritage and promoting cultural values to the wider population. The Virasat Heritage Festival has played a pivotal role in reviving endangered rural arts and preserving village traditions, music, dance, crafts, painting, sculpture, theatre, storytelling, and traditional cuisine. This effort has revitalized classical and contemporary arts, enabling them to gain recognition in modern times. Virasat 2023 guarantees an enchanting and unforgettable musical and cultural journey.

For more information, please contact Vikas Kumar – 8057409636.