It’s 6 am on a chilly December morning when audiences board a boat that meanders through the river Ganga. As the boat docks at the Guleria Ghat, the anticipation heightens. On disembarking, they are greeted by a breathtaking sight of the sunrise and the mist enveloping the Ganga, heralding the seventh edition of the Mahindra Kabira Music Festival in Varanasi. The celebration of the 15th Century mystique poet and saint Kabir begins on a serene note.
Amidst this natural spectacle, Sandeep Singh, a maestro of the taus, takes centre stage and holds the audience in thrall with his unique peacock-shaped instrument. This is soon followed by a tribute concert to mark the centenary of Pandit Kumar Gandharva, by singer Bhuvanesh Komkali, the legend’s grandson.
One could not have asked for a better start to the two-day programme from December 16-17, 2023, curated by the Mahindra Group and Teamwork Arts, an art and culture production company. The events that followed were Kabir-centric.
