Bismillah Khan's son's homage to Karbala Martyrs

        Varanasi: Nayyer Hussein played Shehnai before the maestro the late Ustad Bismillah Khan's grave at Fatemain here on Monday on the occasion of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein Ibn Ali. He was continuing the tradition of his father. Though generally no music is played during Muharram, the late Shehnai maestro used to observe it by playing the dirges of Nauha, a mourning music. "The month of Muharram is the month of Imam Hussein. In this month, we don't play any music. But Ustad Bismillah Khan used to play the dirges of Nauha and make people cry," said Nayyer Hussein, son of Ustad Bismillah Khan. Muharram, to be observed on January 30, is marked by prayers, processions and self-flagellation, which is believed to negate sin. In the Islamic calendar, Muharram is the first month and its first day is the beginning of an Islamic year. The Shia Muslims mourn during this month and remember the Battle of Karbala. The tenth day of Muharram is called Ashurah. On this day, Imam Hussein Ibn Ali was martyred with his family and friends in the Battle of Karbala.
- January 29, 2007

Lok Tarang: Kalam to inaugurate folk dance festival

        New Delhi: President APJ Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the six-day national folk dance festival, Lok Tarang, at the Taalkotra Indoor Stadium here today. Folk dance groups will put up performance in the Taalkatora Stadium and other places across the Capital till January 29 to celebrate the spirit of vigour and resurgence of Indian republic, and its rich cultural heritage represented through folk dances of the country. The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, envisages providing a unique opportunity for the people to witness colourful, vibrant and authentic folk dances drawn from the various parts of the country. This, according to the Ministry, will go a long way in preserving, promoting and disseminating Indian folk dances as a part of Indian art and culture. Forty-two folk dances, including vocal instrument music, have been selected from twenty-eight States and two Union Territories for performing at the event. This year, approximately 800 folk artistes from all over the country are participating. The festival will witness folk dances restricted to women folk only, folk dances performed by males only, folk dances relating to martial arts, the tribal dances, drum dances, mask dances and fire dances. As folk dances are born out of day-to-day needs of Indian folk people which are strongly influenced by their religious and social beliefs, each folk dance during the event is connected to different ways of celebrations by the people of the concerned region relating to chores like celebration of good harvest season, worshipping gods, traditional rituals on the eve of birth and marriage, agricultural practices, celebrating different festivals and seasons, and tribute to nature.
- January 24, 2007

Carnatic music festival to highlight spiritual values
by K Vasuki

        Bangalore: An eight-day Yagna was performed by musicians to enlighten the public about the importance of music and its spiritual value. The 'Vadiraja Gana Gnana Yagna', a festival to highlight the intrinsic value of Carnatic music, was performed at the Shankarmutt here recently. Carnatic music legend R K Padmanabha, said this 'Yagna' was performed to highlight the intrinsic value of music and its impact on the minds. "The festival was also part to pay homage to the holy saint of Karnataka, Sadguru Vadiraja Swamy, who heralded the spiritual value of music. More than 500 musicians from across Karnataka took part and sang many ragas and various other classical hymns in chorus," Padmanabha said. Vadiraja occupies an honoured place in the hierarchy of Acharyas of the Madhva Sampradaya. He made monumental contributions to Dwaita philosophy and devotional literature in Sanskrit and Kannada. He was a poet of the highest order in these languages, and his Tirtha Prabandha (the first travelogue in Sanskrit), Rukminisa Vijayam (Mahakavya) and Yuktimallika (a summary of the Brahma Sutras) are among his works. Following the tradition of the Haridasas of Karnataka, Vadiraja composed hundreds of songs in Sanskrit and Kannada and also some in Tulu, which was his mother tongue. He even wrote a music drama titled 'Narada Koravanji'. The Sharada Kala Kendra and the Shri Jagadish Family Foundation conducted the event, which concluded on Sunday.
- January 8, 2007

Classical dance festival in Manipur
by LCK Singh

        Imphal: A five-day classical dance festival was held here recently. Organised jointly by Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy and Central Sangeet Natak (Music and Dance) Academy, the festival showcased many popular classical dance performances. These included Bharatanatyam and Kathakali from south India, Odissi dance from Orissa, Kathak from Uttar Pradesh and Manipuri dance from Manipur. "Dance festivals, specially classical dance festival, should be organised all over the country we need such festivals to share our dance with the audience," said Sharmila Bishnoi, Odissi Dancer. While the event provided a platform to dancers to reach out to a wider audience, art connoisseurs of the remote State had a rare chance to see classical forms of dances from different parts of the country other than the north eastern region of the country. "Classical dance is a very difficult dance form, so even for us as an audience it's difficult to understand but it's a good thing. People coming from different states and watching them perform is a good experience. Some of the dance forms are those we haven't seen before. It gives a lot of pleasure while watching the performances," said Th Manglem Singh, a Manipuri. Most Indian dances take their themes from country's rich mythology and folk legends.
- January 3, 2007

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