Audience Left Spellbound at Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Sangeet Mahotsav

Pune, 1st April 2024: The audience was left spellbound at the 18th edition of the much sought-after Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Sangeet Mahotsav held from 29th to 31st March 2024 at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Kothrud, Pune. The festival was organized to commemorate the contribution of Padmashree Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki to the field of Indian classical music.

The three-day festival organized by former opposition leader of PMC Ujwal Keskar, Aapla Parisar and Tarangini Sanskrutik Pratishthan was inaugurated by renowned scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar and Murlidhar Mohol, former Mayor of Pune City. Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki’s disciple and son Pt Shaunak Abhisheki, State Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Ujjwal Keskar, well-known tabla player Pt Ramdas Palasule, Pt Suhas Vyas, Anuradha Vyas, well-known singer Vidushi Devki Pandit, vocalist Sania Patankar, Govind Bedekar, Praveen Badhekar of Badhekar Group, Mahesh Panse- President of Apala Parisar Sanstha, Vidyesh Ramdasi and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Pt. Suhas Vyas, son and disciple of legendary vocalist Padma Bhushan Pt C.R. Vyas of Laliana Gharana was decorated with the ‘Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar’ for his immense contribution to the field of Indian Classical Music. Well-known singer Sania Patankar was presented with the ‘Pratithayash Gayika Puraskar ‘. In the special award category, Govind Bedekar was presented with the ‘Sarvotkrushtha Ayojak Puraskar’ for efficaciously organizing programs in the field of music along with a special honour to Pt Mohan Kumar Darekar& Pt Ramdas Palsule to mark 60th birthday.

Day one of the Mahotsav began with ‘Swarabhishek’ a mesmerizing program featuring the compositions of Padmashree Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. It was presented by Dr Raja Kale, disciple of Pt Jitendra Abhisheki, Pt. Shounak Abhisheki is the disciple and son of Pt Jitendra Abhisheki, Ganasaraswati Kishori Amonkar’s disciple Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar and Pt. Anand Bhate, a senior disciple of Bharat Ratna Pt Bhimsen Joshi.

Yuvonmesh’, a platform for the young promising artists took place in the morning session of day two and three. It began with a soulful vocal performance by Yash Kolhapure, a disciple of Padmashree Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar of the Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra gharanas. This was followed by a scintillating sarod performance by Nitish Purohit of the Seniya Maihar Gharana and another vocal performance by Bhagyesh Marathe, grandson of Sangeet Bhushan Pt Ram Marathe.

Day two evening session witnessed the blissful Shehnai rendition by Namrata Gaikwad, the first professional Shehnai lady artist and granddaughter of ‘SanayeeSamrat’ Shankarraoji Gaikwad. The vocal rendition of Sangeetacharya Pt Mohan Darekar, a senior disciple of. Jitendra Abhisheki followed this. After this audience enjoyed the melodious Sarangi recital by Harsh Narayan, grandson, and disciple of Sarangi player Pt Ram Narayan. Day two concluded with the melodious vocal performance of veteran singer Pt Venkatesh Kumar of the Kirana and Gwalior Gharana.

Day three ‘Yuvonmesh’ began with the vocal recital of Delhi-based singer Deepak Singh, disciple of Ustad Raza Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana, followed by a reverberating solo Tabla performance by Savani Talwalkar, daughter and disciple Padmashri Taalyogi Pt Suresh Talwalkar. This segment concluded with a vocal performance by Dr Vilina Patra of the Mewati Gharana.

The evening session of the last day of the Mahotsav began with the Kathak recital by Manali Deo, disciple and daughter-in-law of Kathak exponent Dr Manjiri Deo. After this, Vidushi Sangeeta Shankar’s violin mesmerized the audience. The festival concluded with the soulful performance of renowned vocalist Pt Ajay Pohankar of the Kirana Gharana.

The three-day Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Sangeet Mahotsav was compeered by Ravindra Khare.This year the festival was supported by Badhekar Group, Vilas Javadekar Developers, Lokmanya Multipurpose Co-Operative Bank Ltd., and Anshuman Tech.