Badariya Festival bids farewell to monsoon

Delhi witnessed a vibrant cultural evening on Monday as the ‘Badariya: A Monsoon Farewell Festival’ was organised for the first time at the NDMC Convention Centre. The event, hosted by the Department of Art, Culture and Language in collaboration with Mata Chakeri Devi Foundation and Maithili-Bhojpuri Academy, brought together music, dance, folk art and literature to bid monsoon farewell.

CM Rekha Gupta and Minister for Art, Culture and Language Kapil Mishra inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp.They were joined by MP Bansuri Swaraj, NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Chahal, MLAs and other dignitaries. On the occasion, Mishra presented a memento to the CM, while the Mata Chakeri Foundation felicitated him in return.

The highlight of the evening was a soulful performance by Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi, whose kajri and thumri renditions filled the hall with rhythm and emotion. The festival also featured Maithili folk songs by Samriddhi and Sanvi Pathak, while instrumental recitation by Rimpa Shiv (tabla), Vaishnavi Joshi (flute) and Megha Raut (sitar) enthralled the audience.

Adding a visual dimension, young artists showcased paintings inspired by the theme Badariya, capturing the beauty of the monsoon and folk traditions.

The CM described the festival as a celebration of Delhi’s diversity and cultural depth. “Such festivals enrich the city while spreading a message of brotherhood and unity. Our government aims to make the capital a hub of cultural activities,” she said, assuring continued support for similar initiatives. She also highlighted improvements in the city’s infrastructure, noting that areas such as the ITO and Minto Bridge — once prone to severe waterlogging — were now free of the problem due to government action.

Minister Kapil Mishra termed the festival a milestone, saying, “For the first time in Delhi, a grand event of Bhojpuri, Maithili and folk traditions has been organised. This shows that Delhi can emerge as a new hub for cultural festivals. In the future, celebrations like Chhath and Durga Puja will be hosted with the same grandeur.”

Despite sudden weather changes and a last-minute venue shift, the festival drew a large crowd, underlining Delhiites’ enthusiasm for cultural events.