Maestros at Hindustani classical music, dance fest

Classical musicians and performing arts veterans such as Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shujat Khan, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Chhannulal Mishra, Aashish Khan, Shubha Mudgal, Vishwamohan Bhatt and Uma Sharma are among participants at a three-day festival beginning here today.
The 'Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav' aims at reviving interest in traditional art forms and to revive its famed position amongst the present younger generation, who are more exposed to western and Indian popular film music, say organisers.
The festival, which began in the 1970s in Vrindavan, as a tribute to the bond between saint musician Swami Haridas and his disciple Tansen shifted to Delhi where it had been held for the past 12 years.

The ongoing event, say organisers, will commemorate the classical "Mehfil-Andaz" style of presenting music prevalent during the Mughal period and exemplified by the poet and saint-musician, Swami Haridas and his illustrious disciple Mian Tansen-Baiju Bawra.
The festival is commences with a recital by Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, a hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.
She has been on concert tours to every continent and frequently performs at prestigious music conferences around the world. She has also written books on her own style of dancing which comprises Bandishes.
Classical singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra singer, a noted exponent from the Kirana Gharana especially khayal and Thumri is also lined up for the first day.

Grammy Award nominated Sitar player Shujaat Hussain Khan, son of Ustad Vilayat Khan and who belongs to the Imdadkhan Gharana is also scheduled for the first day.