It’s 6 am on a cold December morning when audiences board a ship that meanders by the river Ganga. Because the boat docks on the Guleria Ghat, the anticipation heightens. On disembarking, they’re greeted by a panoramic sight of the dawn and the mist enveloping the Ganga, heralding the seventh version of the Mahindra Kabira Music Competition in Varanasi. The celebration of the 15th Century mystique poet and saint Kabir begins on a serene observe.
Amidst this pure spectacle, Sandeep Singh, a maestro of the taus, takes centre stage and holds the viewers in thrall along with his distinctive peacock-shaped instrument. That is quickly adopted by a tribute live performance to mark the centenary of Pandit Kumar Gandharva, by singer Bhuvanesh Komkali, the legend’s grandson.
One couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to the two-day programme from December 16-17, 2023, curated by the Mahindra Group and Teamwork Arts, an artwork and tradition manufacturing firm. The occasions that adopted had been Kabir-centric.
Heritage Stroll, by the traditional edifices amid the ghats
| Picture Credit score:
S B Vijaya Mary
The famed malaiyo of Varanasi, an attraction on the fest
| Picture Credit score:
S B Vijaya Mary
The gathering of delegates from throughout the nation and a number of other elements of the world had been handled to a luxurious programme of classical, people and fusion music and insightful discourse impressed by Kabir, heritage walks, temple visits, Ganga Arati, boat rides, and a spread of meals curated every day with signature native Banarasi dishes.
Celebrating range
Jay Shah, vice chairman and head of Cultural Outreach Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd
| Picture Credit score:
Particular association
The Kabira pageant has been a journey of cultural evolution and inventive exploration, says Jay Shah, vice chairman and head of Cultural Outreach Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Talking in between the periods, he says, “The Kabira pageant has emerged as a cultural phenomenon, transcending its native roots to turn into a model synonymous with music, artwork and celebration of range. Over the previous seven years, the pageant has not solely established itself as a mainstay in Varanasi’s cultural calendar however has additionally developed to draw a various viewers from throughout the nation.”
The organisers’ aim is to combine every pageant into the cultural material of town, making it a everlasting fixture in that metropolis’s calendar. This method is obvious of their different profitable ventures, such because the Mahindra Blues Competition and Mahindra Independence Rock Competition in Mumbai, the Mahindra Percussion Competition in Bengaluru, the Mahindra Sanatkada Competition in Lucknow and the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) in Delhi. Every pageant is meticulously curated to replicate the essence and id of its host metropolis,” provides Shah.
Past the standard renditions of Kabir’s poetry and music, the pageant has turn into a platform for inventive exploration and problem. Artistes are inspired to step out of their consolation zones, creating distinctive performances that transcend the standard interpretations of Kabir’s work. For instance, artistes like Raghu Dixit have embraced the problem of singing in a language international to the pageant’s origin, showcasing the pageant’s capability to push boundaries and encourage creativity.”
Sacred & particular
Sanjoy Roy, MD, Teamwork Arts
| Picture Credit score:
Particular association
Talking in regards to the significance of the Kabira pageant over different curated festivals by Mahindra, Sanjoy Roy, MD, Teamwork Arts, says that is the primary of their Sacred collection and maybe the oldest. “It is vitally near Teamwork’s coronary heart. What higher place to do it than Varanasi, which is a non secular and non secular centre of India? “
The varied interpretations of Kabir’s songs, philosophy, and poetry by completely different pageant artistes replicate his message’s flexibility and flexibility. Says Roy, “Kabir’s embrace of other viewpoints and numerous views is obvious in each his philosophies and the bani, which generally diverge from his express teachings. He employed riddles to problem his viewers, pushing them to hunt understanding and pose questions. Kabir was by no means confined to a single viewpoint or system however inspired questioning and resisting normative kinds.”
Roy says that the poetry itself wasn’t essentially all attributed to or finished by Kabir; it assimilated over time. “The purest type is seen within the Guru Granth Sahib, the place Kabir’s hymns are additionally included. It was the primary and earliest assortment that we’ve got seen. And now we are going to see the gathering of 400 songs in Rajasthani very quickly,” provides Roy.
Whereas the core of the pageant stays firmly rooted in Varanasi, the organisers aimed to unfold the pageant’s affect past its birthplace. To attain this, they’ve launched pop-up codecs in different places. These smaller occasions function a teaser, providing a glimpse of the primary pageant and constructing consciousness in numerous cities. For example, the Mahindra Blues particular in Chicago brings a style of the Mumbai pageant to a world viewers and acts as a catalyst for curiosity and engagement.
Varanasi and past
Shah acknowledges the significance of step by step increasing and embracing new areas, as demonstrated by not too long ago including a pageant in Bengaluru. Hyderabad, being the headquarters of Tech Mahindra, has naturally entered the issues of the pageant organisers. “Whereas there aren’t any concrete plans but, the potential for bringing the Kabira Competition to Hyderabad is just not dominated out,” says Shah.
A big a part of the Teamwork is devoted to crafting an immersive expertise. Over seven editions, this facet has undergone appreciable refinement. Says Roy, “The encounter you had within the seventh yr differs from what you may need skilled within the first. We’ve witnessed evolution – not simply within the pageant itself but additionally within the places and areas we’ve employed. The character of our shows has progressed, and the pageant’s acceptance throughout the metropolis has expanded. Quite a few adjustments have taken place, and our aim is to result in constructive variations yr after yr persistently.”
Manganiyar’s magic
Anwar Khan Manganiyar on the fest
| Picture Credit score:
Particular association
When Anwar Khan Manganiyar, a famend sufi, people, and conventional vocalist of Rajasthani music, took the stage on the Shivala ghat, pleasure was within the air. The visible spectacle of him on stage, with one hand cupping his ear and the opposite raised within the air, provides to the enchantment of his music. Right here, he introduced a contemporary perspective to Kabir’s bhakti, infusing it with the wealthy sufi and people music traditions.
In a backstage interview, Khan shared his emotions about acting at such a sacred location. He thought-about it an honour and a blessing to current his music in an area the place the viewers, fellow artistes, and organisers are all deeply related to Kabir’s philosophy.
He highlighted the overwhelming sensation of performing by the Ganges and acknowledged the pageant as a major platform for spreading the music of his Manganiyar neighborhood. Khan emphasised the significance of such occasions in enabling their musical custom to achieve numerous audiences, expressing gratitude for the help they obtain from patrons that sustains their cultural heritage.