Mahindra Kabira's 8th Edition Blends Music, Discourse, Art & More
The festival was held from 13th - 15th December 2024.
By: Blair Ingenthron Dec. 15, 2024
Mahindra Kabira Festival's 8th edition began with a programme at Guleria Kothi, celebrating the philosophy of Kabir through its diverse offerings. The day featured music, heritage trails, and a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The morning began with a performance by Yusra Naqvi of Man Lago Re. A vocalist and instrumentalist studying Hindustani classical music under Pt. Madhup Mudgal, Naqvi's expertise in Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, and Bhajans beautifully brought Kabir's teachings to life.
The second performance, Sarvatara: Different Moods of Kabir, was presented by the Sarvatara ensemble. Led by Himanshu Mishra, the group included musicians Awarthanga Chiru, Sonam Mishra, Sangeet Joshi, Md. Juned Khan, and Honey Mishra. Their unique fusion of semi-classical, Sufi, and indie folk inspired by Kabir's verses brought a fresh and vibrant energy to the morning. Highlights included compositions from their ongoing Project Kahat Kabeer, combining traditional and contemporary sounds.
After the musical performances, attendees embarked on the specially-curated Panchganga Heritage Walk and the Mandir Visit, offering an immersive journey through the city's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Highlights of the walk included the Panchganga Ghat, the steps where Kabir met his guru, the historic Kangan Wali Haveli, Alamgir's Mosque, the Bindu Madhav Temple, and the Gopal Mandir.
As the morning programme concluded, the audience eagerly anticipated the afternoon sessions. The discourse segment commenced with Archana Sharma, Principal Staff Scientist at CERN Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. Sharma, co-author of a book on Varanasi that captures the city's vibrant essence through breathtaking photography and evocative prose, shared her insights in conversation with Eric Chopra, founder of Itihāsology. Reflecting on her student years at the iconic Banaras Hindu University, she explored why Varanasi is often referred to as a place "before time" and spoke about the connections between the arts, sciences, and spirituality.
The afternoon continued with an engaging session titled Journey to Sustainability: The Case for India, featuring Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, and Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts. The discussion centered on India's journey toward sustainability, with Sharp offering global perspectives on local solutions and Roy emphasising the role of the arts in advancing sustainability goals. The session concluded with a representative from Skrap, Mahindra Kabira Festival's sustainability partner, highlighting the eco-friendly practices adopted by the festival, which have established it as one of India's leading green events.
The final conversation was with renowned literary critic, historian of ideas, and former UPSC Board member, Prof. Purushottam Agrawal, an expert on Kabir and the mystic-poet's poetry and philosophy. In conversation with Roy, Agrawal spoke about the varied ways in which Kabir continues to be remembered and how his ideas are both relevant and deeply significant even in the 21st century.
Then there was the much-awaited evening music programme at the Shivala Ghat. The evening began with a set by the student choir of Sunbeam Varuna. This was followed with Kabir Baani by father-daughter duo Madhup Mudgal & Sawani Mudgal. Their Hindustani classic performance was influenced by the sayings of Kabir.
The final performance was by the Indian fusion ban Advaita, featuring artiste Abhishek Mathur, Anindo Bose, Gaurav Chintamani, Ujwal Nagar, Chayan Adhikari, Aman Singh Rathore, Saptak Sharma,Rohan Prassanna, Uttkarsh Narula, and Sarang Sahay. The band ended the evening with their signature blend of Indian classical, ambient rock, jazz, and electronic influences. Known for their award-winning albums and collaborations, Advaita's performance brought a contemporary flavour to Kabir's teachings.
About Mahindra:
Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 2, 60,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world's largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.
The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to
About Teamwork Arts:
Teamwork Arts is a highly versatile production company with roots in the performing arts, social action and the corporate world. For over 30 years, Teamwork Arts has taken India to the world and brought the world to India, presenting the finest of Indian performers, writers, change makers and visual artistes in the knowledge and arts space in India and abroad. Every year, they produce over 33 festivals in 72 cities and 26 countries in the fields of performing & visual arts and literature. Teamwork Arts produces the world's largest literary gathering: the annual Jaipur Literature Festival; JLF international now travels to the US, UK, and Europe.
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