A treat for music lovers

Assi Ghat recently reverberated with some melodious music as the International Performing Arts Festival (IPAF) was hosted in the city. The beautiful ambience of the ghat along river Ganga, added to the festival, which was a beautiful blend of classical and folk music. The event commenced with the lighting of the lamp. The first performer at the two-day festival was upcoming artist Anwesha Baruah who showcased an Assamese classical dance, Sattriya Nritya. Next was a vocal performance by Dr Madhumita Bhattacharya and Kumar Abhishek who enthralled the audiences with their recital. Their presentation in Raag Kedar, dhrut khayal in Raag Pilu Mishr left the audience in awe.

Karma folk dance

Dr Amar Patnaik (L) and Yogi Prakash Nath Yogeshwar

The concluding performance of the first day was by Dr Anamika Dixit and group who presented a recital-cum-dance performance on Kashi - a cultural heritage. Their performance dived deep into the spiritual history of Banaras.The highlight of the second day of the festival was a kathak performance by ace kathak artist Dr Khushboo Panchal from Ujjain. She began her performance with the famous Shiv Stuti and then later enacted Lord Krishna’s maakhan chhori. The crowd applauded her performance.

Dr Anamika Dixit and group

(L) Sisir Kumar Baruah

Next was a karma folk dance performance by the tribal artists from Sonbhadra, who showcased their lives and culture through their dance act. These artists made the people aware of their customs and the intricacies of a tribal life through their performance.
To conclude the festival, santoor maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya, took the evening a notch higher with his act. The audience were delighted with some soulful notes created by him on the instrument. He was accompanied by Pt Ram Kumar Mishra on the tabla. The jugalbandi of both the artists made the evening memorable. The chief guest of the festival was Dr Amar Patnaik.

Dr Khushboo Panchal

Khushi Chauhan with an audience