Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

KBC Arts celebrates Indian poets Kabir/Tulsi/ Surdas through various art forms

This event marked the 13th installment in the series hosted by KBC Arts, with each gathering focusing on a distinct poet or a set of poets

KBC Arts celebrates Indian poets Kabir/Tulsi/ Surdas through various art forms

Kaza Business Consultants, operating under the banner of KBC Arts, organised an event at the East Ham Mahalakshmi Temple on October 29 2023 dedicated to exploring and acknowledging the works of 15/16th Century poets Kabir/Tulsi/ Surdas, highly-respected Indian saints/poets/composers.

KBC organises two annual events at the Mahalakshmi temple in London, each dedicated to the compositions of a specific poet with the mission to perpetuate and raise awareness of India's rich cultural heritage.


This event marked the 13th installment in the series hosted by KBC Arts, with each gathering focusing on a distinct poet or a set of poets.

These events are open to all performers and are free for the audience, with a specific emphasis on encouraging younger generations to explore and understand these cultural treasures, a press release for KBC said.

Performers have the freedom to express the poets' work through various art forms such as Carnatic music, Bharathnatyam, Kuchipudi dance, or musical instruments, creating a diverse and enriching experience for all attendees.

Guiding the audience through the enchanting narratives of the poets' lives was Jayashree Varadarajan, who urged attendees to familiarise themselves with the compositions and philosophies of Kabir, Tulsi, and Surdas.

While Pushkala Gopal, MBE, a distinguished artist, captivated the audience with her insights into the mysticism of the poets and their profound influence on the Bhakti movement. She praised the organisers for their innovative approach, emphasising that such events are vital to preserving the legacy of these poets, as their compositions resonate with followers even today.

The evening came alive with performances, including dances by Ranjani Dharmarajan (Gaiye Ganpati Jagvandan) and renowned artists Sankari Mridha (Sri Ramachandra Kripalu) and Lavanya Rao (Gopi Gopala Lala).

Additionally, Shruti Sriram, an eminent singer, and her students regaled the audience with renditions of timeless compositions. Furthermore, another set of students, trained by singer Padmini Pasumarthy impressed the attendees.

Additionally, the renowned singer Shruti Sriram and her students regaled the audience with their renditions of timeless compositions. Furthermore, another group of students, under the guidance of singer Padmini Pasumarthy, left a lasting impression on the attendees with their performances.

Also, the talented young singer Dhriti Srinath, only seven years old, captivated all present with her rendition of Darshan do Ghanshyam.

The performances which were complemented by the beats of the Mridangam, played by Vijyeyarajah Mylvaganam concluded with Hanuman Chalisa (Tulsidas) with the entire audience collectively reciting the same.

The evening ended with an Aarti performed by the temple priests.

The event was captured through the lenses of Aaditya Kaza and the concept to execution of the event was coordinated by Geetha and Prabhakar Kaza, the founding patrons of KBC Arts.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less