Seher presents "Bhakti Utsav", a three day fest of devotional music from April 22, 2011. April 22, 2011

New Delhi: Seher presents Bhakti Utsav - a three day musical extravaganza of devotional music from April 22, 2011 to April 24, 2011 at Nehru Park, New Delhi from 6:30 p.m. daily. The annual festival is being held in association with Govt. of NCT Delhi. Entry to the festival is free. For more information, log on to www.sehernow.in
There’s no doubt that there is immense devotional music talent in various nooks and corners of India. The capital will witness a musical treat with the soulful singing of the Sufiana Qawwali of Pakistan to Tukaram from Dewas, Shiv Bhajans from Mumbai to Rigvedic chanting from Kerala, songs of Women Seers from Delhi and Sadgun and Nirgun in Manganiar tradition from Rajasthan, all being part of perhaps the most awaited musical event of the year.

On April 22, the evening will begin with K.M. Vasudevan Namboothiri & O.N. Damodaran Namboothiri (Kerala) performing the Rig-Vedic chanting followed by Bhuvanesh Komkali (Dewas) who specialises in bhajans of Tukaram. This will be followed by Goraknath bhajans by Dera Khan Manganiars (Rajasthan) and then Gurbani by Sarabjeet Singh Rangila (Durgwale). The day will end with Shiv Bhajans by Ashwini Bhide Deshapande (Mumbai)

April 23 will witness the Panini Kanya Mahavidyalaya (Varanasi) performing Vedic Chanting followed by devotional bandishes on Krishna by Aditi Upadhyay (Bangaluru). Shafi Mohammad Faqir (Pakistan) will present songs of Kabir. Next in line would be Bhakti forms in Carnatic music from Chennai by Vijay Siva with conclusion by Rajan and Sajan Mishra from Delhi performing Hanuman Bhajans.


The third and last day, April 24, will showcase Sam Veda Chanting by Sreejith Namboothiri M.N, Bhavadas K.S. & Devadas K.S. (Kerala). After that, Subhadra Desai (Delhi) will perform Songs of Women Seers followed by Padmaram Meghwal (Rajasthan) singing Sadgun and Nirgun in Manganiar tradition. The event will conclude with Sufiana Qawwali by Sher Mian Dad & Group (Pakistan)

Says Sanjeev Bhargava, Festival Director: “Over the years, Bhakti Utsav has been established as one of India’s most prestigious sacred music festivals. Artists from all across the Indian subcontinent have been invited to perform. We are aiming at providing great variety to the audience. We hardly ever repeat our artistes. This year we have a line-up of 14 artistes from all over India and Pakistan, all specializing in various traditions, both popular and niche.”

This festival aims to promote harmony, tolerance and peaceful co-existence amongst people. Bhakti Utsav, the only dedicated, thematic festival in the country that showcases devotional music in its myriad forms brings a truly bewildering variety, richness and intensity of music prevalent in many parts of contemporary India. Cutting across all regions, sects, religions and faiths, one can hear from Sanskrit chants to Bhajans in folk and popular traditions, Sufiana Qawwali to Vedia chanting, verses of Kabir, the saint poets of the north to Carnatic devotional compositions. The Utsav promises to create a grand spectacle whereby artists, one better than the other, will present different forms of bhakti songs.

PROGRAMME

Friday, April 22, 2011, 6.30 p.m onwards

• K.M. Vasudevan Namboothiri & O.N. Damodaran Namboothiri (Kerela)- Rig Vedic chanting
• Bhuvanesh Komkali (Dewas) –Tukaram
• Dera Khan Manganiar (Rajasthan) – Gorakhnath Bhajans
• Sarabjeet Singh Rangila (Durgwale) – Gurbani
• Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (Mumbai) – Shiv Bhajans

Saturday, April 23, 2011, 6.30 p.m onwards

• Panini Kanya Mahavidyalaya (Varanasi)- Vedic Chanting
• Aditi Upadhyay (Bangaluru)- Devotional bandishes on Krishna
• Shafi Mohammad Faqir (Pakistan)- Kabir
• Vijay Shiva (Chennai)- Bhakti forms in Carnatic music
• Rajan and Sajan Mishra (Delhi)- Hanuman Bhajans


Sunday, April 24, 2011, 6.30 p.m onwards

• Sreejith Namboothiri M.N, Bhavadas K.S. & Devadas K.S. (Kerela)- Sam Veda Chanting
• Subhadra Desai (Delhi) – Songs of Women Seers
• Padmaram Meghwal (Rajasthan) – Sagun & Nirgun in Manganiar Tradition
Sher Mian Dad & Group (Pakistan)- Sufiana Qawwa