By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 23 Oct: Virasat Mahotsav 2024 festivities kicked off on 22 October with captivating dance performances by students from various schools, featuring styles like Garhwali and Kathak. Under the Virasat Sadhna initiative, several talented performers, including Shruti, Aastha, Tushar, and Shweta Rawat, along with Jaswin Kaur, Shravya Rawat, and Aishani from Doon International School, Priyanka from Brooklyn School, Ritarnia Chamoli, Jiyaya Ralli from Brightland School, and Vedi Mudgal, mesmerised the audience with their diverse and engaging dance acts. The presentation of Garhwali songs also captivated everyone.
MP Rakesh Sinha emphasised the strong connection between development and culture in the country. He eloquently shared his thoughts on India’s rich cultural diversity and intellectual heritage. He urged the younger generation to embrace traditional values while navigating modernity, highlighting the interplay between cultural development and technology.
Sinha expressed concern that “the freedom of the mind is being questioned by technology and AI”.
KL Pandey, a well-known figure in the world of music, shared his extensive knowledge of ragas at an event hosted by Virasat at DIT. Bollywood aspirants engaged in an informative discussion about ragas at UPES, guided by Pandey, a former Indian Railways employee and a passionate advocate of classical music. The session, led by the head of the DSW organisation at UPES, was presided over by Dr Nishant Mishra.
The discussion kicked off with a captivating rendition of “Sangeet Ki Shakti” from the film Rani Roopmati, emphasising the transformative power of music and the significance of ragas. Throughout his engaging presentation, Pandey fostered an interactive atmosphere, rewarding students and teachers with chocolates for their insightful answers. He shared his extensive research on 174 ragas, analysing their patterns and popularity among music directors, while also delving into the various talas associated with them.
The evening’s of cultural events began with the musical performances of two sisters, Sankriti and Prakriti Wahane. Their duet was captivating and became the centre of attention.
After lighting the lamp, a beautiful Jugalbandi of Santoor and Sitar was performed by the two, which was accompanied by Pandit Shubh Maharaj on the tabla. He started with a beautiful alaap, followed by jod and jhala creating a rich musical dialogue. The first piece was Vilamita Rupaka, which featured complex rhythms, followed by a lively second piece in Teental. The musical evening concluded with an energetic Jhala and soulful tune in Raga Dhrupad.
This was followed by renowned ghazal singer Pratibha Singh Baghel’s performance. She was accompanied by talented musicians. Esraj was played by Arshad Khan, harmonium by Akhlakh Hussain Warsi, and tabla by Prashant Sonagra. She began her performance with a few classic ghazals, followed by thumris and some iconic old film-based classical pieces, captivating the audience with her expressive voice and timeless renditions.
