VASANT UTSAV: A FESTIVAL OF FOLK ARTS – 19 AND 20 MARCH 2026

A two-day festival of folk music,dance and art, celebrating contemporary narratives in traditional folk art. The festival includes performances, exhibition and demonstration.  

On 19 and 20 March 2026 from 11:00 to 17:30

Phulkari Embroidery Demonstration and Exhibition

An exhibition by the women artisans from Nabha, Punjab will exhibit traditional Phulkari embroidered textiles and conduct live-demonstrations and workshops. The Nabha Foundation launched the ‘Nabha Phulkari,’ the Foundation supports over 300 women artisans through the Nabha Phulkari Mahila Industrial Cooperative Society Limited.

The artist will continue to demonstrate and sing on the second day of the festival also.

On 19 March 2026 at 18:00 in the Fountain Lawns

Basant in the Land of Five Rivers: Dance and Songs from Punjab

By the artists of Universal Art and Culture Welfare Society, Mohali, who shall be performing Jundua, Gidha, Bhangra ; Folk singing by Garry Gill and Sukhbeer Pal Kaur.

On 20 March 2026 at 18:00 in the Fountain Lawns

Rhythms of Chhattisgarh: Folk Dances of the Heartland

By the artists of Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh performing Gedi Dance, Karma Dance, Sarhul Dance and many more from the region.

(Collaboration: NCZCC, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India)

Nangiar Koothu: Emancipation of Ahalya by Usha Nangiar

Accompanists: Rajeev PP; Vineesh; Unnikrishnan PP; and Athira Hariharan

Chief Guest: Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Hindustani Vocal recital

By Sniti Mishra, Hindustani classical singer

Accompanists: Shri Ajeet Pathak on tabla; Shri Milind Kulkarni on harmonium; and Shri Hrishikesh Majumdar on flute

Chief Guest: Shri N.N. Vohra, Life Trustee, IIC

The Splendour of Malay Dance: From tradition to contemporary dance

Presented by the dance group from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia – ASK DANCE Company

Chief Guest: Dr Mahesh Verma, Trustee, IIC

Venue : Fountain Lawns

Diva : The Triumph of Woman in Opera

Choral music presented by an all-women’s ensemble from the Neemrana Foundation

Chief Guest: Dr Shailesh Nayak, Life Trustee, IIC.

Inauguration of the Festival

By Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC

Followed by

Bharatnatyam Recital By Malavika Sarukkai

Accompanists: Ms. Neela Sukhanya S; Ms. Krithika Arvind; Mr. Nellai Balaji Azhwar; and Mr. S.Venkata Subramanian

Love Ballad of Jharkhand

By Megha Sriram Dalton, from Daltonganj, Jharkhand. Megha is today one of the most promising folk singers of the state. Apart from folk, she has also made her debut in Bollywood giving them the best songs. She was awarded a scholarship from H.R.D. Ministry, Govt. of India for working and promoting folk music of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Megha gained popularity following her coke studio performance with Shankar Mahadevan

Programme Details

A two-day festival of folk music and art, celebrating contemporary narratives in traditional folk art organised in collaboration with NCZCC, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. The festival includes performances, exhibitions and screening of short and long documentary films. The performances include the best of folk music by renowned folk artistes – Megha Sriram Dalton from Jharkhand who is an MTV Coke-studio artist; and Mooralala Marwada, sufi folk singer from Janana village of Kutch district, Gujarat

On 21 and 22 March 2025 at 18:00 in the Lounge Verandah

Pattachitra tradition with Story Telling Session

An exhibition by Sahajan Chitrakar, Pattachitra artist from West Bengal who will exhibit traditional folk paintings and sing stories from the Ramayana and other deities depicted in the paintings.

The artist will continue to demonstrate and sing on the second day of the festival also.

On 21 March 2025 at 18:30 in the Fountain Lawns

A Desert Trail- Musical Journey

By Mooralala Marwada, celebrated folk singer from Gujarat, who belongs to a lineage of Meghwal singers who migrated from Rajasthan to Khadir Island in Kutch four centuries ago. With a rich repertoire of Nirguni bhajans, sufi kalaam and other traditional folk songs, Mooralala also plays the ‘santaar’, a traditional stringed instrument. He has performed in coke studios and with Indian classical vocalist, Nirali Kartik, gaining a YouTube viewership of 50 lakhs.

Aawazon ke Jaadugar

Bhairav Dutt Bhatt, 86-year-old voice mimickry artist from Uttarakhand who brings to live different sounds of birds, animals and humans, creating a rare experience will present this folk tradition.

The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India
By Sanjeev Chopra (Bloomsbury India: 2025)

Chief Guest: Dr. Arif Mohammed Khan, Hon’ble Governor of Bihar

Discussants: Shri Adarsh Shastri, former Legislator and social entrepreneur; Shri Shekhar Gupta, journalist, author, founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Print; Dr. Aishwarya Pandit, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Law School; and Dr. Sanjeev Chopra, former Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and author of the book

Presented by T.M. Krishna

Accompanists: Akkarai S. Subhalakshmi (violin); K. Arunprakash (mridangam); and Sunil Lumar (kanjira)

Sangita Kalanidhi T.M. Krishna will regale audiences with a soul-stirring performance, exploring the works of Narayana Guru. An immersive experience, the performance weaves together poetry, music and philosophy

(Collaboration: Backwaters Collective; Nool Archives; Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti, Mumbai; and Uru Art Harbour)