New Delhi: Poetry and music have been employed from time immemorial by many as an expression of their love for God.
Now, 11 singers from varying genres are set to participate in a festival that aims to recreate the magic of devotional music set to begin here from April 29.
The 3-day ‘Bhakti Sangeet Festival’ at Nehru Park here draws upon bhajans of saints like Kabir, Meera and Soordas to Sufiana Kalams from Punjab to heart rending vocals of qawwalis played at dargahs.
The event is presented by Sahitya Kala Parishad and Department of Art, Culture and Languages of the Delhi Government.
Veteran Hindustani classical singer Pt Chhannulal Mishra, who has been lined up to conclude the three-day festival said, “Be it in any form, devotional music never fails to strike a chord in the hearts of people who have this quest to connect to the ultimate reality.
“In different cultures and languages, people develop and nurture their own devotional traditions. Expressions of love and devotion when combined with the magic of music tend to magnify this intangible impact on the human consciousness,” he said.
Anuradha Paudwal, is scheduled to open the festival with her renditions of popular bhajans.
“The sheer variety of devotional music traditions in India is breathtaking. Every language, every culture, every folk tradition has its own way of appealing to the Almighty and connecting people through the message of love and humanity,” Paudwal said.
Following Paudwal is a performance of ‘kabeer bhajans’ by Bhuvanesh Komkali and an evening of Qawwali rendition by the popular Warsi brothers Naseer and Nazeer Ahmad Warsi.
On day two Kumud Diwan is set to sing Radha Bhajans followed by devotional singing by Shubha Joshi from the Abhang and other folk traditions and Nitin Sharma who will render songs of saints Meera and Soordas.
Singer Harshdeep Kaur is set to end the day with mellifluous Punjabi Sufi songs.
The final day will see Uday Bhawalkar perform one of the most ancient styles of Hindustani classic music, the Dhrupad and Shobha Raju render bhajans with Pt Chhannulal Mishra reciting from the ‘Ram Charit Manas’.
PTI
