If you ever dreamt of attending a classical music and dance festival that also doubles up as a showcase for handicrafts and culinary delights, then Virasat Festival, held recently in Dehradun, is the answer. One of the longest-running festivals in India, it is held for 15 days with three to four performances each evening.
In its 30th edition this year, the festival, apart from classical and folk arts, featured a naval band. It opened with a concert by sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and concluded with singer Manoj Tiwari’s performance. Usha Uthup, ghazal artistes such as Ustad Ahmed Hussain, Mohammed Hussain and Osman Mir were part of the line up. The presence of young artistes such as vainika Ramana Balachandhran, vocalist Anirudh Aithal, sitarist Adnan Khan, sarodist Pratik Srivastava and violinist Yadnish Raikar heightened the interest. As for dancers, there was the U.K.-based Odissi artiste Arunima Kumar and Kathak artiste Shinjini Kulkarni. Manjari Chaturvedi premiered her production ‘Patiala, the royal gharana’, which focussed on Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Patiala-Kasur gharana. It was a well-crafted production that combined storytelling, music and dance.
Usha Uthup also performed at the festival.
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Special Arrangement
Despite the logistical challenges, the festival is managed by a group of music lovers from the region.
A volunteer and media management student, Parvesh, shared: “It is 15 days of hectic activity, with so much coordination that there is hardly any time to relax.” His senior, Vijayshree, who took care of the virtual aspects of the event believes, it is “important to involve the youth; when they meet exponents such as Begum Parveen Sultana, they are bound to be inspired to connect with the arts. I have been involved with the the festival since I was a student and it has changed me a lot.”
This edition also involved students of UPES University, who got the opportunity to interact with artistes. “I believe this experience will leave a great impact on students,” said festival curator R. K. Singh.
It was impossible to experience all that Virasat had to offer; but some concerts stood out. Shashwati Mandal’s performance was one such. Belonging to the Gwalior gharana, she started her training under her mother Kamal Mandal. She further hones her skills under many gurus, including Pt. Balasahib Poonchwale, acknowledged as an authority on ‘tappa’. He also introduced her to the Agra gharana repertoire. She learnt some old compositions from Pt. Madhup Mudgal. Her concerts usually include unusual bandishes as she makes it a point to present works of contemporary and Gwalior gharana composers.
Shashwati Mandal was accompanied by Pt. Mithilesh Jha, Chinmayee Athale Oak and Pt. Dharamnath Mishra.
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Special Arrangement
Shashwati started her concert with raag Jaijaiwanti, a commonly known raag, which would appeal to a diverse audience, including first-time listeners of classical music. The bandish was the traditional Ek taal vilambit khayal ‘Bairan jagi naveli’. Her clear voice brought out every nuance of the raga. Next, she sang a rare bandish thumri in raag Bageshwari ‘Balamaa aayo’ in Rupak taal, composed by vidushi Meera Rao (one of Shashwati’s gurus), disciple of Pt. Kumar Gandharva.
A tarana in Teentaal, composed by Pt. Kumar Gandharva, completed the set. Next, she sang a tappa, something she specialises in — it was in Khamach; intricate and wonderful. She ended with a sargam geet (again a speciality of the Gwalior gharana), composed by Pt. Ram Ashray Jha. She was accompanied by her disciple, Chinmayee Athale Oak. On the tabla and harmonium were two stalwarts of the Benaras gharana — Pt. Mithilesh Jha and Pt. Dharamnath Mishra — who enhanced the concert’s appeal with their appropriate interventions.