Legends of Hindustani classical music and Dance set to perform in the Swami Haridas-Tansen- Sangeet-Nritya Mahotsav 2019

This is the 18th edition of the Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav, organised by Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan with the aim to revive and promote interest in India's traditional art forms, both musical and performing arts, specially among the younger generation.

Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav is brain child of Kathak Exponent Dr. Uma Sharma, Managing Trustee and Director of Bhartiya Sangeet Sadan (Uma Sharma School of Dance & Music). In order to revive the interest in our traditional art forms, both musical and performing arts and to spread and rekindle to revive its famed position amongst the present younger generation, who are more exposed to western and Indian popular film music, the Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan and Sri Ram Centre For Performing Arts with the help of HCL, Modern School, are actively encouraging keenly endeavouring and commemorating the legendary guru-shishya parampara in the ‘Mehfil- Andaz through their programmes.

The old, classical style of presenting music to music-lovers was prevalent during the Moghul period and exemplified by the two great musical geniuses of India, the venerable saint-musician, poet and composer of Brindavan, Swami Haridas and his illustrious disciple Mian Tansen – Baiju Bawra. We are trying to keep alive and spread our musical heritage through a cultural ‘renaissance’ and resuscitation of the musical ethos by holding a festival of music, dance and vocal recitals (Dhrupads) in Delhi. We observe that woefully classical music and traditional Indian Performing Arts have lost their Patrons in the true sense of the word.

Dr.Uma Sharma, a Padma Bhushan Kathak dancer, who’s been organizing the festival for the last 17 years, says, “The event encourages the younger generation to listen and absorb the purity of Indian classical music and Dance. A traditional atmosphere will be created in ‘mehfil andaaz’ representing the old musical style of our country. I want them to hear what their forefathers listened to.”

As western music and dance forms take over Indian art forms, the show hopes to rekindle people’s waning interest in traditional art forms. Dedicated to Swami Haridas and Mian Tansen, the four-day event will see legends such as Smt. Parveen Sultana (Vocal), Shri Amaan & Ayaan Ali Bangash (Sarod), Pt. Chhannulal Mishra (Vocal), Gundecha Brothers (Vocal), Ustad Aashish Khan (Sarod), Shri Bickram Ghosh (Tabla), Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena), Pt. Salil Bhatt (Satvik Veena), Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (Vocal), Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor), Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Flute), Ustad Shujaat Khan (Sitar), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Dr. Uma Sharma (Kathak).

The duration of Programme is 4 Days and the festival of Music and Dance will be held on 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th January, 2019 at 6:30pm at Shankar Lal Hall, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi.