The heroine of Harivallabh, India’s 150-year-old music festival

As a child, Purnima Beri used to come to attend the Harivallabh Sammelan with her father by bus from Amritsar. Begum Akhtar was her father's 'muh-boli' (sworn) sister. Though she explored sitar and vocals in her early years, life eventually steered her toward the demanding role of a businesswoman. Yet, the spirit of classical music remained deeply ingrained in her.The face of the Harivallabh Mahasabha for decades, Purnima, president, Harivallabh Sangeet Mahasabha and MD of Leader Valves, has been serving the mahasabha since 1990s (first as a general secretary, now president) and bears testimony to dramatic changes the world's oldest classical music festival has witnessed.Her tenure is marked by passionate tributes to the festival’s former head Ashwini Kumar, changing festival's name from Harballabh to Harivallabh, and a commitment that the event remains apolitical.Reflecting on her association, Beri says: “My bond with Harivallabh is very strong — it’s like marrying off three daughters every year, since the festival spans three days. I’ve been associated with it since 1990s, except for a four-year sabbatical due to a family tragedy. As a child in Amritsar, my father Balbir Chand Mehra was a classical music connoisseur, proficient in bansuri, tabla, and vocals. My bua lived in Jalandhar and father was also general secretary of the Raga Sabha, Amritsar, a 135-year-old organisation hosted at the Durgiana Temple. So, from childhood, it was a great treat — we attended the Raga Sabha there and Harivallabh here. Most performers visited both - Pt Omkar Nath Thakur, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Ravishankar.”On taking responsibility, she recalls: “Before me, many people were involved through our company (Leader Valves) with Ashwini Kumarji. The locals have always been the strongest supporters of the Sammelan — names like Alok Sondhi’s father Balbir Raj Sondhi, Vijay Sehgal and Advocate KL Jain. We’ve had presidents like Vijay Chopra, under whom the Harivallabh rule book was drafted. It outlined concepts and dos and don’ts. Recently, we amended it to keep Harivallabh apolitical. Service to music is our only aim.”On the challenge to run Harivallabh, she says, "Since it's my passion, I find it easy. But there's many nitty-gritties involved. One has to see the accounts are clear, there's no hanky-panky. People in my organisation get irritated with me because I try to be a perfectionist. But to move along with everyone one has to come down to their level or they have to come up to yours. By the grace of God, we have a very good team - Rakesh Thapar, Ricky and Ashu Singla and Ajimalji are our backbone."Funds have lately been a constant issue, "Money has been a very important part. Sometimes our advertisement isn't good enough. It doesn't ring a bell with ministers that there's something called Harivallabh. When they come and see it, they realise it's something different and needs their support. But we've been advised by lot many people not to make it a government-run organisation. Because then, things won't happen. It's because of the passion of Jalandhar people that we're able to continue. We have generous sponsors. Earlier, artistes didn't charge, performed for free and stayed in people's homes. There were no hotels. In the early 50s-60s Harivallabh was considered a festival of India. Members did door to door collections from Rainak bazar traders - Rs 10, 20, 100," she said."Shortfalls were fixed by politicians or patrons. But the era has changed, now artistes need money. Especially, since what happened to some big artistes in recent times - they didn't have money to go to the hospital. So people realise, whatever you may do, without finances, running things isn't possible."On the hopes from governments in 2026, she says, "Some funds have been announced, we're making a proposal for the auditorium among other needs and funds have also come in from the state government. Our aim is Harivallabh must again be deemed a festival of India. We have also started sending reminders to everyone to send in the funds announced."On festival's legacy: "People who were working earlier, unfortunately, did not keep any record with them whatsoever. The whole land from Doaba college to this (Devi Talab) was donated to Baba Harivallabh by Kanwar Bikrama Singh of Kapurthala. Formerly it was Baba Harivallabh's land and the Devi Talab Temple was also built by Ashwini Kumar's mother. Now Babaji is only left with a little samadhi. I've tried searching for Baba ji's tanpura (stringed, wooden musical instrument) and khadaun (wooden slippers) which were earlier kept at the samdhi and were taken to Patiala. But have been been unable to find them."

The heroine of Harivallabh, India’s 150-year-old music festival

Funding, space, and passion challenges behind sammelan: Purnima

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

The heroine of Harivallabh, India’s 150-year-old music festival

Funding, space, and passion challenges behind sammelan: Purnima

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

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