Thumri Festival – The Melodic Thumri continues on the 2nd day of the Fest
New Delhi, 24th September 2019: After a successful musical trail on the first day of Thumri festival, the second day was no less. Eminent classical vocalists graced the occasion with their presence and performances at the Kamani Auditorium, where this 3-day musical festival is ongoing. Organized by Delhi government’s Sahitya Kala Parishad, Thumri festival was started on 23rd September 2019 and will continue until 25th September 2019.
The event started with a soulful performance by one of the foremost Hindustani Classical vocalists in India Pandit Sarathi Chatterjee. Sarathi’s music has a blend both of Benares Gharana and the Kirana Gharana. His first performance was ‘Baiyyan packadlini Shyam, kaise jau main apne dhaam’ in Raag Misra Pilu. This piece talks about the playful interaction between Radha and Krishna, and how Radha is worried whether she will reach home on time since lord Krishna is making it hard for her to leave. His second performance was‘Baalam nahi aye more paas’ in Raag Misra Charukeshi which is a melancholic description of a lover who is lost in deep thought, waiting for her lover to return. He ends his act with the piece ‘Paiyyan laagu karjori shyam, mosee khel nahori’ in raag Maaj Khamaj. This is yet another piece reciting an interaction between Radha and Krishna, where in Radha is requesting Krishna to not play holi with her and allow her to go home.
Followed by his performance was of Pandit Ganesh Prasad Mishra. The first piece he performed was ‘Hato jao re na bolo kanha’ Bandish ki thumri. This was composed by his father Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra. This was followed bybolbanaothumri ‘abna bajao Shyam bansuriavyakul bhayee brijbaam’. After this remarkable piece he sang Bandish ki thumri ‘Na manungi, namanungi ..’. He concluded his performance with a Jhula – ‘Jhula dheere se jhulao’.
The evening witnessed a mesmerizing performance by Ashiwini Bhide-Deshpande who is an outstanding vocalist of the famed “Jaipur-Atrauli” Khayal Gayaki tradition of Indian Classical Music.
