Pune: 28th Kalashree Music Festival to be Held from April 3 to 5
Pune, 31st March 2026: Pt. Sudhakar Chavan—founder-president of the Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal and a classical vocalist—announced that the annual Kalashree Music Festival, organized by the Mandal, will be held this year from Friday, April 3, to Sunday, April 5. This marks the 28th year of the festival, which will take place over three days, commencing at 4:30 PM each evening, at the Natsamrat Nilu Phule Rangmandir in Pimple Gurav. Chavan also noted that the festival is open to everyone free of charge, though advance registration is mandatory for attendance.
Providing further details about the festival, Pt. Sudhakar Chavan stated, “For the past 27 years, the Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal has been organizing the Kalashree Music Festival with the specific objective of providing a dedicated platform for promising young artists alongside seasoned veterans. We take immense pride in the fact that this year marks the festival’s 28th edition. We are confident that, through this event, the residents of this region will have the opportunity to experience the artistry of various performers and enjoy it to their heart’s content.”
The 28th Kalashree Music Festival will be inaugurated on Friday, April 3, at 4:30 PM at the hands of Shankar Jagtap, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Chinchwad constituency. Pt. Sudhakar Chavan further informed that the event will be graced by the special presence of dignitaries including Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Mayor Ravi Landge, Commissioner Dr. Vijay Suryavanshi, former MLA Ashwini Jagtap, MLA Tanaji Sawant, Municipal Corporator Appa Renuse, and Abhishek Barne, Chairman of the Standing Committee.
On Friday, April 3, the program will feature vocal and instrumental performances by students of the Kalashree and Radhanand Music Schools. This will be followed by a classical vocal recital by the promising young classical vocalist, Abhaysingh Waghchaure. Following this, the program will feature a captivating Pakhawaj performance by Krishna Salunkhe, a young artist hailing from the Pakhawaj lineage of Pt. Nanasaheb Panse. The first day of the festival will conclude with a vocal recital by Ankita Joshi, a disciple of Sangeet Martand Pt. Jasraj from Mewati Gharana.
On Saturday, April 4th, the program will commence with vocal and instrumental performances by students of the Kalashree and Radhanand Music Schools. This will be followed by a classical vocal recital by Shrinivas Joshi—son and disciple of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Subsequently, the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy a solo Tabla performance by Pt. Vishwas Jadhav. The second day of the Kalashree Music Festival will draw to a close with a melodious classical vocal performance by Pt. Shaunak Abhisheki—son and disciple of Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki.
On Sunday, April 5th, the festival will begin at 4:30 PM with vocal and instrumental performances by students of the Kalashree and Radhanand Music Schools. This will be followed by a vocal recital by Pt. Sudhakar Chavan from Kirana Gharana. Thereafter, the audience will be treated to a Sitar performance by Ustad Rais Bale Khan who is son of Sitar virtuoso, Sitar Nawaz Ustad Bale Khan. Ustad Bale Khan’s musical lineage is distinguished by the title ‘Sitar Ratna’’. Notably, this lineage has played a pivotal role in establishing and popularizing the Sitar as an instrument in South India. The 28th Kalashree Music Festival will conclude with a Kathak dance performance by Rujuta Soman—a renowned Kathak dancer and disciple of Pandita Dr. Rohini Bhate.
Additionally, on the final day of the festival, the annual ‘Kalashree Award’—presented by the Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal—will be conferred upon the senior vocalist Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar. Furthermore, the ‘Kalashree Youth Award’ will be presented to the young Tabla player Soham Gorane, a disciple of Pt. Yogesh Samsi. This marks the 28th year of the Kalashree Awards. During the festival, the Kalashree Award—instituted in memory of former MLA Laxman Jagtap—will be conferred upon Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar, while the Kalashree Yuva Award—instituted in memory of Shakuntala Dhore—will be presented to Soham Gorane. Pt. Sudhakar Chavan further informed that these awards will be distributed at the hands of MLA Shankar Jagtap and Mayor Ravi Landge.
Throughout all three days of the festival, the Tabla accompaniment will be provided by Pt. Ramdas Palsule, Prashant Pandav, Charudatta Phadke, Nandkishore Dhore, Hrishikesh Jagtap, Ramakant Raut, Chetan Tamhankar, and Smitish Kurve; meanwhile, the Harmonium accompaniment will be rendered by Pt. Prabhakar Pandav, Milind Kulkarni, Abhinay Ravande, Yash Thite, Gangadhar Shinde, Ameya Bichu, and Haribhau Asatkar. Additionally, Gambhir Maharaj Avchar will provide accompaniment on the Pakhawaj. Pt. Sudhakar Chavan also shared the information that the festival proceedings will be anchored by Shrikant Chougule, Namdev Talpe, Nana Shivale Sir, and Akash Thite.
