Naandiswar festival concludes on a high note

Almost after seven months, Punekars got a chance to witness the first cultural program in the city. The two-day music festival called ‘Naandiswar’ organized by Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal was held at Sawai Gandharva Memorial in Shivajinagar.
On the first day of the festival on Saturday, Pt. Srinivas Joshi, son of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Pt. Upendra Bhat, senior classical vocalist, presented the cultural season of the year 2020 with several songs. The program was organized in the presence of a small audience and was inaugurated by Pune Mayor, Murlidhar Mohol.
The concert began with Pt. Srinivas Joshi who presented the Raag Puriya Kalyan followed by the song More Sham Bahut Din Bite. He also introduced the Raag Tilak Kamod with the composition Tirath Ko Sab Kare.
Pt. Upendra Bhatt started his performance with Raag Yaman Kalyan and Piya Bin followed by the composition Shaam Bajaye Muralia from Drutlayi. He concluded the first day of the festival with Jamuna Ke Teer.
On second daymelodious performances by vocalist, Viraj Joshi, grandson of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and famous vocalist, Pt. Anand Bhate enthralled audience.
Viraj Joshi started the first session of the second day program by performing Ab Mil Aaye, Guru Bin Gyan Na Pave and Bangari Mori from Raag Maarva followed by Tirath Ko Sab Kare and Man Main Mohan Biraje from Raag Tilakkamod. It was followed by a bhajan Anuraniya Thokda. He ended his presentation with the Krishna bhajan Baaje Muralia Baaje and was accompanied by Pandurang Pawar (tabla), Gangadhar Shinde (Harmonium), Ravi Pandit and Ravi Panchal (Tanpura).
Later, Pt. Anand Bhate performed bandish Rasiya Aao Na and Tarpat Raina Dina from Raag Maru Bihag.On the occasion of Pu. La Deshpande's birthday on November 8, Pt. Anand Bhate concluded the program by performing a bhajan Indrayani Kathi which was composed by Deshpande and made popular by Bharat Ratna, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.