86th Aundh Sangeet Mahotsav to be held on October 30 with Ulhas Kashalkar, Suresh Talwalkar

The 86th Aundh Sangeet Mahotsav will be held on Friday, October 30. Audiences will hear vocal and instrumental performances by several veteran artistes, including Padma Shri Pt Ulhas Kashalkar and Pt Suresh Talwalkar. The information was given by Apurva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi, trustees of the Shivanand Sangeet Pratishthan.

The Shivanand Swami Sangeet Pratishthan organises the Aundh Sangeet Mahotsav every year. The festival has run without a break in the rural area for 85 years and is counted among the country's important festivals. It was started in 1940 by Pt Anant Manohar Joshi, alias Antubuwa, court singer of the Aundh princely state, and his son, violinist Pt Gajanan Buwa Joshi. The festival grew over the years, and in 1981 the Shivanand Swami Sangeet Pratishthan was founded under the presidency of Pt Gajanan Buwa Joshi.

Many senior and eminent artistes have performed at the festival, among them Pt Jitendra Abhisheki, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Rohini Bhate, Girija Devi, Pt K G Ginde, Sultan Khan, Pt Madhukar Joshi, Padma Shri Pt Ulhas Kashalkar, Padma Shri Pt Suresh Talwalkar, Yashwant Buwa Joshi, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Yogesh Samsi, Pt Venkatesh Kumar, Niladri Kumar and Shubha Mudgal. The festival has had the blessings of Aundh's royal family from the start. A new generation of the Joshi family has taken charge of the event. Pallavi Joshi and Apurva Gokhale are trying to carry forward the old legacy of classical music. Vocal, instrumental and dance performances are all presented here, and several young artistes are given a stage to show their art.

The festival will be held in three sessions. At 9 am, it will be inaugurated by Ravindra Samant, managing director of Kirloskar Group company. Administrator and village development officer Chandsha Kazi and other dignitaries will be present. Chief guest Ravindra Samant will felicitate the organisation's president, Pt Arun Kashalkar, on his receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi award.

The first session will begin with a vocal recital by young singer Priya Purushothaman. Senior harmonium player Pt Vishwanath Kanhere will then play the harmonium. Apurva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi, granddaughters of Pt Gajanan Buwa Joshi and well-known singers, will present a duet. The session will close with a vocal recital by senior singer Padma Shri Pt Ulhas Kashalkar, accompanied on the tabla by senior tabla player Talyogi Pt Suresh Talwalkar.

The second session will begin at 3.15 pm with a recital by young singer Aniruddha Aital. It will be followed by a solo tabla recital by noted tabla player Anish Pradhan. Audiences will then hear senior singer Pt Arun Kashalkar. After that, the festival souvenir 'Riyaz' will be released, with distinguished guests, the administrator and village development officer of Gram Panchayat Aundh present. The organisation will then felicitate Pt Vikas Kashalkar on completing 75 years.

The third and final session will begin at 10 pm with a Kathak dance by Nikhil Parihar. Noted flautist Pravin Gotkhindi will play the flute. Krishna Salunke, a disciple of Talyogi Pt Suresh Talwalkar, will present a pakhawaj recital. The festival will close with a vocal recital by Kirana gharana singer Ambarish Das.

Sumit Naik, Yati Bhagwat, Yashwant Vaishnav and Swapnil Bhise will accompany on the tabla throughout the festival. Chinmay Kolhatkar, Siddhesh Bicholkar and Suyog Kundalkar will accompany on the harmonium. For Kathak, Ishan Paranjpe, Parth Bhumkar, Atharva Vairagkar and Swanand Rajopadhye will provide accompaniment.

The festival will be open to all music lovers. Apurva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi have appealed to all listeners to attend in large numbers and benefit from the festival.