Now, a cultural fest to cheer up Mumbaikars

MUMBAI: The city's burgeoning festival calendar has a new edition: the Mumbai Saptarang festival, a cultural extravaganza organised by the state government. The week-long festival from January 23 to 29 has been organised to cheer up Mumbaikars who are still recovering from the tragedy of 26/11. The state's culture minister Harshavardhan Patil described it as a "cultural salute to courageous Mumbai''.He's particularly keen that youngsters attend. The festival, which cost Rs 2 crore, will be spread across seven venues and showcase the talents of 200 artists from across the country and 100 artists from Maharashtra. It will feature events that celebrate Independence and cultural diversity.
SAPTARANG CALENDAR
January 23
Saptrang will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. The CM, along with several union ministers and members of the state cabinet, will pay homage to the victims of 26/11 attacks. The inauguration will be followed by Unity in Diversity, a musical concert which will see performances by Rupak Kulkarni (flute), Satish Vyas (santoor), Bhavani Shankar (pakhawaj), Fazal Qureshi (tabla), Loius Banks (keyboard) and Sanjeev Chimmalgi (vocals). Amitabh Bachchan and Javed Akhtar will recite poetry by their fathers, poets Harivanshrai Bachchan and Jan Nisar Akhtar. Singers Anup Jalota and Jagjit Singh will sing ghazals and devotional songs.
Time: 6pm
Venue: Gateway of India
January 24
Catch TV show Sa Re Ga Ma, besides a performance by 20 musicians from London
Time: 7pm
Venue: Ravindra Natya Mandir
January 25
Listen to Hariprasad Chaurasia's enthralling flute performance.
Time: 6.15pm
Venue: Gateway of India
The Vadali brothers will sing Sufi qawwalis at a concert organised by The Times Group
Time: 7pm
Venue: Gateway of India
National award-winning painters will paint their view of the city.
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Jijamata Udyan, Byculla
January 26
Conducted by Javed Akhtar, this musical extravaganza will feature Pandit Jasraj, Niladri Kumar, Rakesh Chaurasiya and Zakir Hussain.
Time: 6.15pm
Venue: Gateway of India
January 27 & 28
Groove to tunes belted out by the police and BMC bands
Time: 7pm
Venue: Mhada Maidan, Bandra (W)
January 30
A number of programmes have been organised at Shivaji Park to mark martyr's day. The sports and youth welfare department will hold a self-defence camp for women.
Time: 4-6pm
Venue: Shivaji Park
Attend a talk by Shri Shri Ravi Shankar on peace through meditation
Time: 6.15 pm
Venue: Shivaji Park
Catch a santoor performance by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Time: 7 pm
Venue: Shivaji Park
Throughout the week
Folk performances
Catch performances in yakshagana, bhangda, pandvani, ghumar and ras garba among other folk forms every day at 7pm at venues such as Nare Park in Parel, Lokmanya Tilak Maidan in Chembur, Moghara Village in Andheri (E), Lion's Club Maidan in Marol and MHADA Maidan in Bandra (W).
Mahalaxmi Saras
Women's self-help groups will display goods they've made.
Time: 7pm
Venue: Mhada Maidan, Bandra (W)
Natyanjali
Watch troupes from across the country will celebrate the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Attend a workshop by Kanak Rele's Nalanda Dance Research Centre. Call Ravindra Natya Mandir on 022 2431-2956 for details.
Prominent hotels and restaurants in Colaba, including the Taj, are offering a 20% discount.
All events are free. Passes must be collected at Ravindra Natya Mandir.