Soulful musical performances mark finale of Sacred Amritsar
Amritsar, February 26
Curtains drew on Sacred Amritsar 2024 after two days of phenomenal performances, invigorating conversations, specially curated heritage walks and immersive experience for locals. The event was presented by Sleepwell and supported by Team Work Arts and Rangla Punjab.
The events on the last day began with an immersive performance by Maharaj Trio, led by one of the most celebrated maestros of sarod, Pandit Vikash Maharaj from the Benaras Gharana. Coming from the 15th generation of a family of musicians, Pandit Vikash Maharaj is the disciple of legendary tabla Guru Pandit Nanhku Maharaj, his father. Carrying on the family legacy, Pandit Vikash Maharaj’s sons, Prabhash (on tabla) and Abhishek (on sitar), introduced the audience in the holy city to a repertoire of ragas, bringing in their unique style of Khayal Gayaki and Drupad Ang, along with their father.
Saumya Kulshreshtha and Harish Budhwani moved the audience with their evocative performance, focused on the timeless and moving love story of Amrita and Imroz. Afternoons at the Partition Museum, presented by Rangla Punjab, featured engaging conversations with Padma Shri awardee Punjabi poet Surjit Patar and artist Seema Kohli. Patar through his poetry and Kohli, through her introduction of Project Home, her special tribute to her family’s history with Partition of India, presented a multifaceted view of Punjab’s essence through the prism of poetry, romance, theatre and art. The closing night of the festival featured live concerts, including by Soumyadeep, with his band, The Murshidabadi Project. A tribute to the late Rashid Khan, the Hindustani classical legend from Rampur-Sahaswan gharana and great-grandson of the gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan, Soumyadeep managed to hold the audience in trance through his soulful, nuanced performance. The finale was high on energy as Faridkot, with lead singer IP Singh, made those present dance to the tunes of their popular hits, ‘Tera Nasha’, ‘Laila’ and some folk Punjabi numbers.
Addressing the audience, Sanjoy K Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts, the group behind Sacred Amritsar, said, “Upon concluding the second edition, we bid farewell, cherishing memories of exceptional performances and presentations by poets, writers, musicians, theatre and spoken word artists. Art is an indispensable part of a country’s progress and what it needs is support from all corners as only through art can we foster a sense of tradition and heritage. Our guests have arrived from across India, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Dubai to revel in the rich culture and heritage of this hallowed city. As we bring this year’s festivities to a close, our commitment remains unwavering to return next year.”
Namita Gautam, Director, Sleepwell Foundation, also said, “I am filled with gratitude for the incredible response we have received. The festival’s vibrant mix of poetry, music and insightful discussions has left a profound impact on all of us. We look forward to returning next year with this festival, themed ‘Sukoon’, which is centred on well-being, reaffirming our commitment to fostering emotional, physical and spiritual well-being through our events.”
