Three-day Harivallabh sangeet sammelan begins in Jalandhar

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 25

The three-day 140th Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan began here today.

The sammelan began with the Saraswati and Harivallabh Vandana followed by the performance by Pandit S Ballesh, renowned Hindustani classical vocalist and shehnai artist, who mesmerised the audience.

“While I love to perform as a vocalist in Patiala gharana, I prefer Banaras gharana form in shehnai vadan as it has much softer notes,” said the maestro, who is among the few disciples of world-renowned Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Ustaad Bismillah Khan.

Pandit Uday Bhawalkar, another renowned Hindustani vocalist, also performed in the sammelan.

Other renowned artists, including Abhishek Lahiri and M Venkatesh Kumar, too gave performances later in the night. The event was inaugurated by Uday Singh, head of the Namdhaari community, and was attended by Mayor Sunil Jyoti and other dignitaries of the city.

The sammelan is dedicated to Late Padma Bhushan Ashwini Kumar and Late Jatinder Kumar Beri this time.