Latest news with #Dhrupad
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Day 5 of SPIC MACAY fest a warm, melodic embrace
The 10th International Convention of SPIC MACAY, being held at IIT Hyderabad, continued to unfold a vibrant tapestry of sacred music and deep cultural immersion on Day 5. The day began with a diverse array of workshops that showcased India's cultural and spiritual depth. Participants started their mornings with Hatha Yoga sessions led by Swami Tyagarajananda and Zarna Mohan, alongside tranquil meditation sessions with the Brahma Kumaris offering a grounding start steeped in discipline and mindfulness. There was Dhrupad training by Ustad Wasiffuddin Dagar, and Hindustani vocal sessions by Jayateerth Mevundi, giving young participants a direct experience of India's classical music traditions. Adding a Western twist, the Neemrana Music Foundation Choir introduced foundational elements of Western classical music and harmony, offering a rare blend of global and local musical pedagogy. Visual and performing arts had their moment in the spotlight too. Kathakali was taught by veteran Kalamandalam Balasubramaniam, bringing the dramatic storytelling dance form alive. Participants also explored traditional art through hands-on sessions in Gond painting with Bhajju Shyam, Majuli mask-making with Hem Chandra Goswami, Cheriyal painting with D Vaikuntam, and Kalamkari with Niranjan Jonnalagadda — each rooted in centuries-old folk traditions. The afternoon took on a spiritual tone. A meditative choral performance by the Neemrana Music Foundation Choir opened the session, gracefully blending Indian and Western sacred music motifs. This was followed by a deeply moving Shabad Kirtan by Bhai Gurudev Singh Hazuri, who performed Sikh devotional hymns that filled the hall with peace and introspection.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Dive deep into Dhrupad with Anant Gundecha
In fact, the Gundecha Brothers established the Dhrupad Sansthan in Bhopal. It is a unique musical academy patterned after the ancient guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) tradition of education, which the young singer swears by. 'When I attended one of the classes, I realised that the reason I am not getting bored is because it can be improvised — there is no fixed way to go about it. Every time you attempt a raag, you are searching for something new,' he shares, with eagerness in his voice. So, what is Anant's favourite raag? Initially hesitant to choose, he eventually relents, saying, 'Raag Bhimpalasi, an early evening raag. It is still in my mind because I taught everyone this raag in the workshop.' Anant is someone with a unique understanding of Hindustani classical music. While his knowledge comes from two Dhrupad stalwarts, he is aware of changing times and realities. As such, he urges aspiring singers in the tradition to first find a good guru. 'That is the most important step. Next, completely surrender to what your guru advises. As students, we tend to carry some ego, questioning authority. But don't question…simply imbibe,' he underscores. At the same time, he highlights the gaps in the music space, saying, 'Institutional support is needed to reach out to newer, younger audiences. When children are exposed to music early on, they are likely to embrace it with much more warmth as they grow older, correct? Ideally, each city should have five to six music circles that invite both local and visiting musicians. If artists consistently present good music, a good audience will naturally build over time.' It's simple — for Anant, music is what made him who he is today. 'It has taught me many, many lessons, and I keep learning.'
Morocco World
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
‘4Femmes' Ensemble Uses Sacred Music as a Universal Cry for Women's Rights at the Fez Festival
Fez – Fez's ancient Jnan Sbil garden became a stage for a powerful women's rights musical manifesto at the 28th edition of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival. Yesterday, leading the ensemble '4Femmes', mezzo-soprano and composer Ariana Vafadari and her troop delivered an unforgettable performance. She ignited a conversation on the global struggle for women's rights through the transcendent power of sacred music. In an exclusive interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Vafadari shared the emotional weight behind her return to Fez, a city she calls her 'spiritual home.' The festival, known for bridging cultures through sacred sounds, provided the perfect setting for her latest work, a fusion of ancient myth and modern resistance. A project born from pain and hope For Vafadari, 4Femmes is not just a musical piece. It's a cry against the erosion of women's rights worldwide. Inspired by real testimonies from Afghanistan, Iran, and beyond, the project reimagines the myth of Medea, transforming her from a tragic figure into a symbol of defiance. 'These are stories of women facing poverty, violence, and oppression,' Vafadari told MWN, her voice trembling with conviction. 'But it's also about their resilience, how they reclaim their voices despite everything. Sacred music isn't just about tradition; it breathes, it lives. When we perform, something magical happens. Women from different worlds, different languages, different wounds, suddenly recognize each other. That's transcendence.' The lyrical monologues, penned by Atiq Rahimi (award-winning author and filmmaker), knot together personal narratives into a collective plea for justice. 'Medea refuses to be a bargaining chip,' Vafadari explained. 'She escapes her fate. That's what we're singing about, women who refuse to be silenced.' Sacred sisterhood For Marianne Svasek, a Dutch singer specializing in the rigorous tradition of Dhrupad (an ancient form of Indian classical music), joining 4Femmes was a revelation. Known for her solo performances, she found unexpected freedom in this cross-cultural collaboration. 'Normally, I sing classical music, and it's very strict,' Svasek admitted in an interview with MWN. 'But here, collaborating with different styles and these incredible female voices, I discovered another side of myself. It's not just about technique; it's about emotion, about truth.' When asked how she channeled the project's heavy themes, stories of war, displacement, and survival, Svasek paused, then replied: 'It feels different, deeper, singing with women about women's lives. You can't just perform these stories; you have to live them in the music. There's a responsibility in that. And in Fez, with its sacred energy, it becomes even more powerful.' Svasek described performing at the festival's opening night as electrifying, but she was especially moved by their garden performance. 'The city feels alive, like India's sacred spaces. Singing surrounded by nature, it's a different kind of magic.' Vafadari's vision for a global sisterhood The seeds of 4Femmes were planted years ago when Vafadari met members of the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, an institution offering free education to women from across Asia. 'Their stories stayed with me,' she said. 'Music creates bridges, between eras, spiritualities, and people. That's what we're doing here.' Trained at the Paris Conservatory yet deeply rooted in her Persian Zoroastrian heritage, Vafadari's artistry defies categorization. Her compositions blend Persian classical music, jazz, and electronic soundscapes, creating what she calls 'sonic epics', where ancient wisdom speaks to modern struggles. 'Fez is the perfect place for this,' she reflected. 'The festival isn't just about preserving traditions; it's about letting them evolve, letting them speak to today's world.' As 4Femmes left the stage, the echoes of their performance lingered. In a time when women's rights are under siege globally, Vafadari's message was clear: 'Sacred music is not just prayer, it is protest. And when women sing together, the world listens.' Women's rights remain a pressing global struggle, as gender inequality, violence, and systemic oppression continue to silence voices across cultures. Yet, in the face of adversity, women have turned to art, storytelling, and music as tools of resistance, transforming pain into power and isolation into solidarity. This spirit of resilience found a profound stage at the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, where artists like Ariana Vafadari and her ensemble 4Femmes wove these urgent narratives into the fabric of sacred sound. The festival, long celebrated for bridging spiritual traditions, emerged as a space where music confronted injustice, where ancient hymns carried modern cries for freedom, and where women's stories, often suppressed, were amplified in a chorus of defiance and hope. Tags: Fez World Sacred Music Festivalsacred musicwomen's rights
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anveshana 2025 showcases Indian knowledge systems
's School of Performing Arts inaugurated its annual International , , at the in New Delhi. A landmark initiative in the field of Indian arts and academia, the conference opened with great enthusiasm, drawing a confluence of eminent scholars, artists, educators, and students from across the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This year, Anveshana focused on the theme 'Indian Knowledge Systems and Performing Arts in a Global Context', exploring how traditional Indian artistic frameworks can engage meaningfully with global perspectives. The theme set the tone for reflective and future-facing dialogues around , artistic innovation, and academic inquiry. The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Vice Chancellor Dr. Sanjay Gupta, followed by insightful keynote speeches delivered by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi (Member Secretary, Executive and Academic Head (IGNCA), New Delhi) and Prabhat Singh (Theatre and Traditional Arts Connoisseur/Eminent Journalist). Their addresses emphasised the timeless relevance of and the urgent need to integrate contemporary innovations within traditional performance frameworks. Reflecting on the significance of the conference, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor of the university, said, 'ANVESHANA is not just a celebration of the arts but a commitment to reimagining education through culture, dialogue, and innovation. It is our effort to make the arts central to the national discourse on knowledge and identity.' Convener of the conference Dr. Parul Purohit Vats, Dean of the School of Performing Arts, added 'This conference brought together a wide range of artistic voices, creating a fertile ground for exchange and transformation. Anveshana is a reflection of our vision—to bridge the gap between tradition and the future, research and performance, the local and the global.' The event also witnessed the formal release of the Anveshana 2025 Proceedings—an ISBN publication featuring scholarly contributions and performance articles from across the nation, setting the academic tone for the conference. Adding to the grace of the occasion were the distinguished Guests of Honour—Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, Kathak expert Pt. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rajendra Gangani, and Dhrupad musician Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar. Their presence added to the event's importance and supported the idea of connecting traditional arts with today's evolving practices. During the two-day event, paper presentations explored topics ranging from ritual practices in traditional Indian dance, emotional intelligence in art pedagogy, Chhau as a classical-tribal interface, and the acoustic design of temple performance spaces, to the shifting dynamics of gender in Bharatanatyam. Workshops added a practical dimension, including Nikhil Bora's reconstruction of Śuddha Tāṇḍava, Sramana Banerjee's movement lab RASĀTMA, and a participatory keynote on Dance Movement Therapy by Tripura Kashyap. Each evening came alive with performances that showcased the energy and creativity of Indian performing arts. Highlights included Navārcanā by Shimran Zaman, Nritya Samarpanam by Subbulakshmi, and Kathaknatyam by Tribhuwan and Rajni Maharaj's team. Collaborative and experimental works like Kali, Transcultural Affections, I Am the Only Man, and Piya Tori Batiya offered bold, poetic expressions. The conference concluded on a high note with Khayal by Guru Malti Shyam's troupe—a tribute to India's living dance traditions.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Rajkummar Rao on Pahalgam terror attack: You can't be politically correct about it
HT City Delhi Junction offers multiple events on May 7, 2025, including a Dhrupad recital, Sufi night, comedy show, and art exhibition across Delhi-NCR venues. Free entry for most events at various locations like Triveni Kala Sangam, IIC, and The Claridges.
