Girija Devi to sing at Delhi Thumri festival

Top Hindustani classical musicians such as Girija Devi and Ajay Chakrabarty will perform at the two-day Delhi Thumri festival beginning August 13.
The festival, being held at Kamani Auditorium and organised by Sahitya Kala Parishad (SKP) and government of Delhi’s department of art, culture and languages, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
The first day will feature Shubha Mudgal and Ajay Chakrabarty while the closing day will feature folk singer Malini Awasthi and Girija Devi.The festival has also grabbed eyeballs on the internet as music lovers are following its Facebook page with a keen interest.
Mudgal, who’s performing for the first time in Sahitya Kala Parishad’s Thumri festival told organisers that she would try and present different kinds of compositions such as “bandish ki Thumri, bol banao Thumri, dadra, kajri and other allied forms.” She further told them, “Keeping in mind the ensuing monsoon season I would try and include seasonal song forms like jhoola and kajri, if time permits.”
Awasthi sees Thumri as a celebration of rains; hence for her performance, she’ll include compilations of Krishna songs in kajri and Thumri style. “The weather is beautiful and this form of music is basically a celebration of rain. I would try and include seasonal songs,” said Awasthi , who feels honoured to be part of the festival because it gives her an opportunity to perform on the same day as her guru Girija Devi. For Awasthi too, it’s her first performance at the SKP Thumri festival.