In a celebration of the rich tapestry of Hindustani Classical Music, the 10th edition of Gaanasaraswati Mahotsav left the audience in Pune spellbound. The three-day festival, held from 23rd to 25th February at Mahalaxmi Lawns, Karve Nagar, near Rajaram Bridge, showcased the magic of both legendary and promising young artists. Organized by Natya Sampada Pratishthan, this annual event pays homage to the late Gaanasaraswati Padma Vibhushan Kishori Amonkar’s profound contributions to Indian Classical Music.
Day One Highlights: The opening day featured a mesmerizing performance by the young trio—Abhay Nayampally on Carnatic Guitar, Manas Kumar on Violin, and Ishaan Ghosh on Tabla. This was followed by an exhilarating performance by the renowned Kaushiki Chakraborty and a soulful flute recital by Pt. Ronu Majumdar. The day concluded with the felicitation of the trio, who received the ‘Gaanasaraswati Kishori Amonkar Yuva Puraskar.’
Day Two Delights: Day two witnessed enthralling performances by Vidushi Aarti Ankalikar Tikekar, Saurabh Kadgaonkar, and the electrifying Niladri Kumar on Sitar. Pt. Nana Mule and Pt. Ranga Pai were honored with the ‘Gaanasaraswati Kishori Amonkar Sangatkar Award’ for their significant contributions to the field of classical music.
Day Three Grand Finale: The morning session of the final day captivated the audience with vocal renditions by Jashan Bhumkar, dual violin notes by Pt Milind Raikar and Yadnesh Raikar, and the soul-stirring vocals of Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi. The evening session featured the Santoor mastery of Dr. Shantanu Gokhale and the mystical Kathak dance recital by Sharvari Jamenis.
The ‘Gaanatapaswini Mogubai Kurdikar Award’ was presented to Padma Bhushan Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt for his continuous and commendable musical service. Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, accompanied by his son Pt Salil Bhatt, graced the occasion with a performance on the Mohan Veena and Satvik Veena, creations of Pt. Mohan Bhatt. The festival concluded with the regal rendition by Pt Raghunandan Panshikar.
Curtain Call: The compering throughout the festival was expertly handled by Milind Kulkarni and Vighnesh Joshi, adding an informative and engaging touch to the musical journey.
