Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Performers across age enthrall audience at The Bhavan's Hindustani music festival

During two-day festival conceived and organised by the organisation’s Hindustani vocal teacher Chandrima Mishra, the audience were treated to solos, duets, and group performances by her students.

Performers across age enthrall audience at The Bhavan's Hindustani music festival

The Bhavan's resident Hindustani vocal teacher Chandrima Mishra presented her students in a dazzling display of talent over the last weekend of November (26-27).

In a two-day Hindustani music festival conceived and organised by Mishra, the audience were treated to solos, duets, and group performances by her students.


The Bhavan's Hindustani classical music A singing performance at the two-day Hindustani music festival held at the Bhavan, London, on November 26 and 27, 2022. (Picture: The Bhavan)

The inaugural evening was titled ‘Bhairav to Bhairavi’ which showcased a range of ragas that are sung from morning till evening.

Beginning with Ganesha Vandana, the evening saw performances by young students and masterful solo renditions by their seniors.

Starting with Raga Bhairav, the performers followed up with morning ragas, including Gunakali, Ahir Bhairav, Gujri Todi, Bhatiyar, Bilaskhani Todi; afternoon ragas Bhimpalasi, Shuddh Sarang; and evening ragas such as Multani and Puriya.

The ragas sung at night included Gorakh Kalyan, and Bihag.

The audience was mesmerised through different times of the day, starting from dawn to night and befitting the ending with a morning raga again.

The second evening was aptly titled ‘Evening Ragas’ which took the audience on a journey through melodies that are sung in the evening time. It was also an evening of gratitude as Mishra dedicated it to her late mother Gita Samanta who passed away last year.

Her younger students sang Yaman Raga and it was followed by soothing solo renditions of ragas such as Shuddha Kalyan, Madhuvanthi, Jog, and Bageshri.

A few students also took the opportunity to speak of their experiences of training at The Bhavan.

The Bhavan's Hindustani classical music Pandit Raj Kumar Mishra plays tabla at the two-day Hindustani music festival recently held at the Bhavan, London, on November 26 and 27, 2022. (Picture: The Bhavan)

The second part of the evening was dedicated to Rabindra Sangeet, and had a personal touch as Mishra herself sang a few verses of a song taught to her by her mother.

This part was a unique combination of Khayal singing and Rabindra Sangeet or songs of Indian bard Rabindranath Tagore.

The first was the song ‘Tumi Robe Nirobe’ in Behag, followed by the classical Khayal in the same raga set to 'teen taal' – ‘Jhoom Jhaam’.

The festival concluded with a grand finale in Raga Desh.

Both evenings saw Pandit Raj Kumar Mishra on tabla accompaniment along with a few of his students, and Misra herself on harmonium.

The performers, ranging from eight-year-olds to adults, showcased their skills before a jam-packed auditorium over the two days.

Mishra is currently training over 160 students in the Hindustani classical tradition at The Bhavan.

More For You

The meeting between Trump and William took place at the UK ambassador's residence in Paris after the event. (Photo: Getty Images)
The meeting between Trump and William took place at the UK ambassador's residence in Paris after the event. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump meets Prince William at Notre Dame reopening

US president-elect Donald Trump met Prince William on Saturday during the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The event marked the restoration of the historic landmark following a major fire in 2019.

Keep ReadingShow less
Princess of Wales hosts emotional Christmas service
Kate attends the "Together At Christmas" Carol Service" at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6, 2024. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Princess of Wales hosts emotional Christmas service

PRINCESS OF WALES, Kate Middleton, hosted a Christmas service at Westminster Abbey on Friday (6) that reflected on "the most difficult times" as she returns to public life after her cancer diagnosis.

The London carol service intended to "reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives", according to Kensington Palace office.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rotherham sexual assault convict to be released from prison: report
Banaras Hussain

Rotherham sexual assault convict to be released from prison: report

A MAN convicted of violent sexual offences in Rotherham is set to be released from prison on licence after serving nine years of a 19-year sentence.

The crimes of Banaras Hussain, 44, included rape, indecent assault, and actual bodily harm, were part of a prolonged pattern of abuse targeting vulnerable victims, some as young as 11.

Keep ReadingShow less
Birmingham gang convicted for £2.5m Covid fraud

Birmingham gang convicted for £2.5m Covid fraud

TWELVE members of an organised crime group from Birmingham, Walsall, and Yorkshire have been found guilty of defrauding over £2.5 million in Covid support grants through fraudulent claims.

The crime group exploited non-trading businesses and stolen identities to submit multiple Covid support claims, including Bounce Back Loans, HMRC payments, and various grants set up to assist struggling businesses and individuals during the pandemic.

Keep ReadingShow less
Migrant workers key to meet housing target, warn builders
Construction workers work on building residential houses and homes at a Homes by Strata building site, in Leeds, northern England on September 4, 2024. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Migrant workers key to meet housing target, warn builders

THE UK must urgently address a construction skills shortage, including by increasing migrant worker numbers, to achieve prime minister's target of building 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliamentary term, industry leaders have warned.

The National Federation of Builders, which represents small and medium-sized contractors, highlighted the scale of the challenge, pointing to an ageing workforce and declining numbers of apprentices, the Telegraph reported.

Keep ReadingShow less