Sawai Gandharva Music Festival 2013

When: 12 to 15 December, 2013

Where: New English School ground, Ramanbag, Pune. 

For tickets: (Available from 5th December) Shirish Traders, Kamal Nehru Park / Navdikar Musicals in Kothrud / Dinshaw and Co on Laxmi Road / Behre Bandhu Ambewale in Shanipar.

The 61st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Sangeet Mahotsav, organised by Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, will begin on December 12 at the New English School ground in Ramanbag. The four-day festival will feature 23 performances by over 25 renowned artistes.

"The festival will begin with a performance by clarinet player Madhukar Dhumal. On the same day, Reva Natu, the renowned singer from the Gwalior Gharana and the disciple of Digvijay Vaidya, will perform. This will be followed by Jasarangi Jugalbandi, a novel and creative concept between none other than Pune's favourite and renowned vocalists Sanjeev Abhyankar and Dr Ashwini Bhide Deshpande. Ustad Imarat Khan's son and globally famous sitarist Ustad Nishat Khan will enchant audience along with legendary tabla player Anindo Chatterjee. A performance by Pt Jasraj will conclude the first day of the festival," said Shrinivas Joshi, Executive President, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal.

The second day will see Ustad Wasim Ahmad Khan from the Agra Gharana. He will be followed by the ever innovative performer and santoor player Pt Ulhas Bapat. The third day will begin by a performance by vocalist Harish Tiwari followed by a performance by Indrani Mukherjee, a new and young talent from Kolkata.

Vocal recital by Tiwari from Delhi, Mukherjee from Kolkata and Pt. Raja Kale, a joint performance by Godkhindi and Kumaresh will mark the third day's performances which will close with a vocal recital by veteran Malini Rajukar. 

On the last day, two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the evening, will feature both new and seasoned artistes. The morning session will begin with a vocal recital by Upendra Bhat, followed by Jayanti Kumresh. The session will end with Patiala gharana exponent Ajay Chakrabarty's vocal performance.

The performances on the first and third day of the festival will begin at 3.30 pm, the second day at 4 pm and on the concluding day at 8 am. The events lined up for the day will culminate by 10 pm, but for the last day, if the organisers get the required permission, they plan to extend the closing ceremony up to midnight.

Madhukar Dhumal, Reva Natu, Ustad Wasim Ahmad Khan, Harish Tiwari, Indrani Mukherjee, Jayanthi Kumaresh, Mira Prasad, Gulam Niyaz Khan and Pandit Rajiv Taranath will be debutants at the festival this year.

Season passes, which enables an individual to attend all the four days of the festival, are priced at Rs 2,000 for chair and Rs 350 for non-chair seats. The daily tickets cost Rs 100 for the first three days and Rs 200 for the last day.

Students can avail special discounts on producing their ID cards and get the season pass at Rs 200. The tickets will be made available from December 5 at Shirish Traders, Kamal Nehru Park, Navdikar Musicals in Kothrud, Dinshaw and Co on Laxmi Road and Behre Bandhu Ambewale in Shanipar.