Pune Festival 2010

One of the main events on Pune’s cultural calendar, the Pune Festival 2010 will be held from next Friday. The inauguration ceremony of the festival will be on Friday, 17th September 2010 at 4.30 pm at Balgandharva Rangmandir Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy.

This is the 22nd year of Pune festival and as is each year, the festival is lined up with many cultural programs.

The artists who will perform this year include Pandita Kishori Amonkar, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Hema Malini, Esha, Aahana, Master Salim, Varsha Usgaonkar, Sonali Kulkarni among others. First time in the history of the festival, Marathi art performances will get prominence this year. Marathi plays, Lavani Mahotsavs, Dance Recitals are lined up during the seven days of the festival. The programs will be held at Bal Gandharva Rangmandir, Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Nehru Memorial Hall, Lokmanya Sabhagruhh - Kesariwada, GL Apte Sabhagruha, New Art Gallery, Ghole Road. Entry to all these venues and events is free for all.

The Pune Festival is jointly organized by the Pune Festival Committee, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Tourism Department Govt.of India and the Citizens of Pune. The Main Sponsor of the Pune Festival is Idea Cellular Ltd. and the Associate Sponsor is Sahara Pune Warriors.

The Ganesh Idol for the Pune Festival will be installed at Hotel Saras, near the Nehru stadium on Saturday 11th September 2010 at 10.30 am. Bagwe and Former Miss India Pooja Chopra will be present at the occasion. Pune Festival Award Like every year the 'Pune Festival Award' will be conferred on eminent Indians who have made a valuable contribution in their chosen fields. This year we will be honouring world renowned classical singer Pandita Kishori Amonkar, industrialist Cyrus Poonawala for the development of the Swine Flu Vaccine and Industrialist Anu Aga. This award ceremony will take place during the inauguration ceremony. For the first time, there will be a "Kolhapur Festival" to be held which will be a showcase of Kolhapuri culture and cuisine. The Programme will have 'Folk Arts' of Maharashtra. The Kerala Mahotsav 'Keraleeyam' which is now a regular feature will be presented by Pune Malyalee Federation as a part of the festival.

* Noted Danseuse and Actor Hema Malini will present her new ballet "Nritya Surabhi" on Saturday 18th September 2010. Hema Malini is a patron of the Pune Festival and has presented about 16 Ganesh Vandanas & ballets and in the twenty two year history of the festival. The first show of her every new ballet is at the Pune Festival.

* Renowned Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma will performon the 19th September 2010.

* Classical Vocalist Pandita Kishori Amonkar is sure to enthrall Pune when she sings on the 20th September 2010.