Festival paying tribute to Swami Haridas to begin on Sept 1

Musicians, dancers and saints will pay tribute to Swami Haridas, the legendary musician and saint of Bhakti Kala, during a two-day festival in Vrindavan here.
The 153rd edition of 'Sangeet Shiromani Swami Haridas Sangeet evam Nritya Samaroh' touted as the oldest music and dance festival of India, will be held at Fogla Ashram in Vrindavan on the occasion of 'Radha Ashtami' on September 1 and 2.
"The two-day festival is a devotional grandeur and has turned out to be an annual pilgrimage for the connoisseurs of Indian music in which students of Swami Haridas Academy will also perform," Acharya Gopi Goswami, secretary of Swami Haridas Samiti said today.

The festival usually sees a footfall of over 3,000 people from across India and has been previously attended by UP Governor, chief minister including celebrities.
This year, the festival is set to offer Kathak recital by Pt Rajendra and Nirupama, 'Dhrupad Gayan' by Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar, 'Taalchakra' -an ensemble of percussion instruments, Bansuri and vocals, Kathak recitals, among others.
In a first, the festival will bring 'Taalchakra' to Vrindavan by world renowned artistes. "Led by Pt Vijay Ghate, Taalchakra will be highlight of the first day's program," he said.

"Solo presentation of 'Prashna Panchali' - a Kavya Natika, Sitar and Cello performance, sufi vocals by Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Mohammed Hussain would add to the grandeur of the festival," he added.

Previously, the festival has seen performances by renowned artists in Indian classical music and dance including stalwarts such as Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pt Jasraj, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Zakir Hussain, Birju Maharaj, among others.
Born on the auspicious 'Radha Ashtami' at Vrindravan about 500 years ago, Swami Haridas was a lyrical devotee of Lord Krishna.