Sitar, vocal recitals spell magic on first day of music fest at Randhawa Auditorium

CHANDIGARH: Sitar and Vocal Recital marked the beginning of Three-day Vocal and Sitar Festival at Randhawa Auditorium,Punjab Kala Bhawan in sector 16 on Friday. The three day festival of is aimed at propagating the young talent of classical performing arts of India under the series “Legends of tomorrow”.
Being organized by Pracheen Kala Kendra the three day Sitar and Vocal festival opened to performances by Delhi based renowned Vocalist Dr Rita Dev and young sensation Shakir Khan.Dr Rita Dev opened up the performance with Rag “Yaman Kalyan” . She was well accompanied by Ustad Akram Khan on Tabla and Paromita Mukherjee on Harmonium.
After Rita’s recita , the acclaimed Sitar maestro Shakir Khan of Itawah gharana took the centre stage and he chose popular raga Jhinjhoti through an alaap, jod alaap and Jod jhalla to unfold the mysteries of Jhinjhoti raga. Shakir enthralled the audience with his sheer virtuosity, deft handling of the raga, lightening speed of Taans. He presented a composition in Vilambit laya set to Jhaptal before a Madhya laya gat composition in Ek tal.
The audience got to relish the recital as he doled out with drut composition set to teen taal. He concluded his recital with captivating composition set to Raga “Mishra Pilu” set to teen taal amidst thunderous applause. The excellent accompaniment on Tabla by Delhi based percussionist Ustad Akram Khan and added to the success of the concert. Dr. Shobha Koser along with Chairman Sh. S.K. Monga and Secretary Shri Sajal Koser honored the artists. Eminent Vocalist Meeta Pandit and young sitar player Adnan Khan will perform tomorrow as revealed by Secretary Shri Sajal Koser.