Celebrate ‘Kabir in Every Sense’ at the third edition of Mahindra Kabira Festival
New Delhi: The third edition of Mahindra Kabira Festival, to be held between 16 -18th November, in Varanasi, will once again celebrate the spirit of 15th-century mystic poet Kabir in a rich two-day programme of music, literature, talks and city explorations. Conceived by theMahindra group and leading performing arts entertainment company, Teamwork Arts, Mahindra Kabira Festival salutes the glorious simplicity of Kabir’s philosophy and poetry annually on the ghats of timeless Varanasi as the vast Ganga stands sentinel.
Mahindra Kabira Festival will bring to music-lovers an invigorating Morning and Evening Music Programme that will take place at Guleria Ghat and Shivala Ghat respectively – with leading exponents of the Benares gharana and folk traditions, dadra, thumri, khayal gayaki styles, Sufiyana andghazals, and pakhawaj and tabla players. The Festival promises an experience that truly is ‘Kabir in every sense’ and, apart from the music, features sessions on art and literature inspired by Kabir in the afternoons, delectable local cuisine and curated walks with famous local residents as guides for attendees as they discover the fascinating city of Varanasi.
Having hosted renowned artistes like Kailash Kher, Shubha Mudgal and Kabir Café in the last two editions, this year will feature a Morning Music performance by Hindustani classical singer Vidya Rao, Literature Afternoon Sessions by writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattnaik and renowned Bhakti scholar Purushottam Agrawal and Evening Music performances by award-winning singer and composer Sonam Kalra of the Sufi Gospel Project fame, vani and bhajan singer Omprakash Nayak and many others from an eclectic line-up of artistes which will be announced soon.
“The Mahindra Group is proud to present the 3rd Annual Mahindra Kabira Festival this November. Sant Kabir’s thoughts are timeless and we are happy to bring back Kabir to where he was born – in the equally timeless city of Varanasi. The Festival will reverberate with music, poetry, discussions and more and if the previous festivals are anything to go by, the inhabitants of Varanasi and the out-of-town delegates are in for a treat!” says Jay Shah, Vice President, Head – Cultural Outreach, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Speaking about the Festival, Sanjoy Roy, M.D, Teamwork Arts says, “The third edition of the Mahindra Kabira Festival will bring together incredible artists, writers and performers who have imbibed the essence of Sant Kabir, who was able to surmount every challenge with wisdom and knowledge and the ability to be inclusive and bridge the divide through music and literature! Come celebrate humanity and discover the wonders of Varanasi through the eyes of this 15th-century spiritual master!”
While attendance to certain events like Morning and Evening Music across the two days is free and open to all, the Festival has in store,customised delegate packages, which offer a curated experience. These meticulously planned one and two-day packages offer an immersive experience of the festival and an opportunity to live out the history of one of the world’s oldest cities and its overpowering character. Delegates also have an option to choose from a range of designated Festival Hotels to stay at during their trip.
The detailed artiste line-up and programme will be announced soon. For more information please visit www.mahindrakabira.com