The two-day Annual Day celebrations of the Kaladarsana  Division of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) commenced with remarkable exhibitions and captivating music and dance performances. The inaugural ceremony was graced by IGNCA President Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Sanskar Bharati’s All India Organisation Minister Shri Abhijit Gokhale, Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University Prof. S. K. Swain, and Chairperson of IGNCA’s Kala Darshan Division Prof. Richa Kaumbuj, who jointly lit the ceremonial lamp.

Shri Ram Bahadur Rai inaugurated the unique exhibition ‘Sauharda’, organised by the Kaladarsana Division in collaboration with Sanskar Bharati. The exhibition showcases captivating photographs of India’s cultural sites and the celebrated Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage. Another special exhibition, ‘Structure and Form of Aerophones in the Cultural Landscape of North-East Indian States’, was also inaugurated. Curated by Dr. Santosh Kumar, Assistant Professor (Flute), Department of Music, Sikkim University, this exhibition presents rare musical instruments from the North-Eastern states, including Sikkim’s Lepcha, Assam’s flute-like Sifung, the shehnai-like Tangmuri, and several other traditional instruments. These exhibitions, installed at IGNCA’s Darshanam Gallery, will remain open to the public until 6 PM on 21 November.

The inaugural session of the Annual Day Celebrations was presided over by IGNCA’s Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, with Shri Abhijit Gokhale and Vice-Chancellor Prof. S.K. Swain as distinguished guests. After the exhibitions, the sequence of cultural performances began. The first presentation of the opening day was a Sarangi recital. Internationally renowned Sarangi maestro of the Senia Gharana, Ustad Kamal Sabri, mesmerised the audience with his extraordinary performance at IGNCA’s Samvet Auditorium. This recital was organised by IGNCA’s NMCM Division. The final presentation of the day was ‘Divya Raas’. Sangeeta Chatterjee and the Kalpataru Dance Ensemble beautifully brought to life the divine pastimes of Radha and Krishna through dance and music, offering the audience an experience of true spiritual delight.

On the second day of the celebrations, 20 November, Vidushi Dr. Subhadra Desai will present Hindustani classical music, followed by a performance of the traditional Bundelkhand Badhai dance by Ms. Abha Srivastava and her ensemble. The first day of the Annual Day Celebrations brought together the rich traditions of art, music, dance, and cultural discourse on one platform. From the exhibitions to the evening performances, the programmes showcased the diversity, creativity, and profound aesthetic depth of Indian culture.

The exhibitions and cultural presentations infused the entire event with a festive spirit. The first day of Kaladarsana’s annual celebration stood as an important step towards the preservation and promotion of Indian art and culture.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

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