For over 36 years, (Padmashri) Shovana Narayan, Kathak Guru, through her Asavari Society, has been holding Festivals and programmes that focuses on the spread of awareness of our rich over 2500 years old classical music and dance tradition, thus ensuring its preservation.
In collaboration with Dr Jyotsna Suri, the annual LalitArpan Festival under the aegis of Asavari Society, which has the main goal of showcasing torch bearers of our rich classical performing arts tradition besides honouring the maestros with the LalitArpan Samman, is currently in its 14th year. Shovana ji and Joytsna ji have been encouraged by the tremendous response that is increasing with every passing year.
This year the Festival will witness an unusual flag off. On 26th of August at Kamani auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, the dance rendering of “Chiragh-e-Dair” on Mirza Ghalib’s Ode to the holy city of Benaras that he termed as the “Kaba of Hindostan” will be performed by the Kathak diva, Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan herself with her Asavari Repertory. The original nazm (poem) of Ghalib written in Persian was translated by the well-known Urdu poet, late Ali Sardar Jafri. The first staging of this dance ballet in 1996 performed by Shovana Narayan and Vani Jairam with a short reading by Ali Sardar Jafri himself, drew the attention of poets, artists, thinkers and connoisseurs to this little known poem of Ghalib.
Programme is as follows
26th August, 2015: Kamani Auditorium at 6.30pm:
Awarding of “LalitArpan Samman” (citation and shawl) to Prof Namwar Singh (eminent Hindi literary figure), Krishen Khanna (eminent painter), Raghurai (eminent photographer) & Yamini Krishnamurthy (eminent Bharatanatyam dancer-Guru)
“Chiragh-e-Dair”: Kathak ballet on Mirza Ghalib’s Ode to Benaras by Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan
The sagacity of true secular spirit, transcendence of religious bindings and expression of universal love, can be best seen in the ode to Benaras by none other than Mirza Ghalib. Likening the holy Benaras to a lady, he visualises her in the early morn, draped in the colour of the warm glow of the rising sun. The glistening water of Ganges is her glistening young body while the reflection of the rising sun in the waters is the ‘bindi’ adorning her forehead. The reflections of the temple spires, shimmering, waving is virtually like the serpentine gait of a woman. So beautiful is she that even the waters seem to rise in order to pay obeisance by touching her feet! Amidst all enmity and violence that surrounds the world, Benaras stands high, seemingly untouched by all. And why not? For it is the holy Mecca of Hindustan; it is the ‘kaaba’ of Hindostan! This beautiful imagery and sentiments of Ghalib was translated into Urdu by the famous poet, late Ali Sardar Jafri. This nineteenth century poem by renowned poet Mirza Ghalib is not only an Ode to Benaras, the holy city of the Hindus but also an ode to humanity, to shared faith, to the spirit of inclusion and pluralism.
Santoor Recital by Pt Satish Vyas (Padmashri) accompanied by Pt Ram Kumar Mishra on the tabla.
27th August 2015: Triveni Kala Sangam Auditorium at 6.30pm:
Vidushi Saniya Patankar – Hindustani Vocal
Saniya Patankar is gifted vocalist and a star in today’s classical firmament. She has learnt classical music from Smt. Lilatai Gharpure(senior disciple of Smt. Hirabai Badodekar) and under able guidance of renowned senior vocalist Dr.Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande of Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. Saniya is a “Sangeet Visharad” with distinction and a gold medalist in M.COM. She has been showered with blessings and appreciation by musicologists, music critics and stalwarts of Hindustani Classical Music. She will be accompanied by Ashish Sen Gupta on the tabla and Vinay Misra on the harmonium.
Pt.Salil Bhatt, Tantree Samrat – Creator of Satvik Veena
Creator of the Satvik Veena and heir to a 500-year musical legacy, Salil Bhatt represents the dynamic face of the new age, Indian musician. Being hailed as the ‘Global Indian Musician’, Salil has done it all. From Solo Concerts and International Collaboration to Exotic Jugalbandis and Global Fusions, Salil has not only managed to marvel audiences in India, bit also has a big fan base in Canada, Germany, Australia, America, Taiwan, England, Switzerland, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Singapore, Spain, Austria, and Italy. That too, in just a span of his trailblazing 25-year career! He will be accompanied by Himanshu Mahant on the tabla.
28th August, 2015: Triveni Kala Sangam Auditorium at 6.30pm:
Pt. Omkar Havaldar – Hindustani Vocal
One of the outstanding artistes of dhrupad and khayal in the younger generation of classical vocalists, Omkarnath Havaldar is the inheritor of the finest nuances of the Kirana Gharana style of Hindustani vocal music of India. He has been trained by his father Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar, a well known Bangalore-based Hindustani vocalist as well as by Pt. Madhava Gudi (Disciple of Bharath Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi) of Kirana Gharana & Pt. Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti of Atrauli Jaipur Gharana. He has also received traning in Dhrupad & Khayal from Pt. Indudhar Nirody. He will be accompanied by Shri Kedarnath Havaldar on the tabla and by Shri Sameer Havaldaron the harmonium.
Shailja Nalwade – Kathak
Shailja, is one of the most talented and versatile Kathak exponent of the younger generation todayShe received her early training from Pt. Gokul Prasad JI and Shree Raj Kumud Tholia JI at Ujjain. This was followed by training under Smt. Urmila Nagar at Delhi. She has been a member of the Kathak Kendra Repertory. An empanelled artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and also a recognised artist of Sangeet Natak Acadamy, she has has performed widely at home and abroad in several Festivals. Besides a versatile dancer she is also a sensitive choreographer. She will be accompanied by several musicians including Shamiullah Khan- vocal and by Mahavir Gangani- Pakhawaj.