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)

Traditional Folk Songs and Dances from Uttarakhand

Narendar Panthri and group, from Dev Bhoomi Lok Kala Society, Delhi
 

The traditional folk music of Uttarakhand dates back to ancient times. It combines poetry, mythology and oral narratives handed down from one generation to the next. Using traditional musical instruments the singing is often accompanied with dance.  

The folk dances of Uttarakhand such as choliya, barada nati, jaggar, chhapeli, chancheri, etc. are deeply rooted in its history. 
 
(Collaboration: NCZCC, Prayagraj, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India)
 

 Tanashah

A solo dance drama based on the prison diaries of Bhagat Singh
Concept, choreography and performance: Navtej Singh Johar

Live Sound Design: Anirban Ghosh
Vocals: Madan Gopal Singh and Venkateshwaran Kuppuswamy
Lighting Design: Anuj Chopra

Didida (60 min)

Contemporary dance presented by artists of MUT Dance Company, Korea

With Namyoung Lee, dancer, choreographer and director; Haein Lee, choreographer and dancer; and Siul Choi, choreographer and dancer

The dance explores mythological texts that contain archetypes and common memories of the collective unconscious of Koreans. It is a work that analyses and deconstructs the movement patterns of the mythical human being who stands on the ground and connects the heavens and earth, and who contains the vitality of the earth, and rearranges or deconstructs them in a contemporary sense.

Dhrupad Recital

By Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar

Accompanists: Pt. Mohan Shyam Sharma (pakhawaj); Santosh & Aravindan Srinivas (tanpuras)

Sufiana Qawwali

Presented by Ustad Chand Afzal Qadri, renowned artist

With Khalil Ahmed; Latafat Ali; Sazim; Asif; Rabbani Ahmed; Sheraz Ali; Jamal Husain; and Hasan Raza