The Brhaddesi Sangeet Mahotsav at Varanasi was sixth in the series of festivals and seminars held by Sangeet Natak Akademi. It focused on the music of central India comprising the States of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. The event was held at Varanasi from 18 to 22 March 2007 in collaboration with Rai Krishna Das, INTACH, Vyas and Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi.

The festival was inaugurated by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees and eminent artists at Raja Ghat (Narad Ghat), Varanasi in the presence of a large number of musicians and scholars and representatives of various institutions committed to the promotion of
traditional arts. It opened with a presentation of music traditions of Delhi featuring Nafiri Vadan, Tasha Vadan, Qawwali and compositions of Hazrat Amir Khusrau and other Sufi saints.

The seminar was inaugurated on 19 March at 10 a.m. at Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU, Varanasi. Shri Bhaskar Chandavarkar spoke on the concept and objectives of the Brhaddesi Mahotsav followed by Dr K.D. Tripathi who spoke on the ‘Vision of Brhaddesi — The Notions of Desi and Margi'. The concepts presented were discussed the next morning. An overview was attempted of the structural specialities, literary content, use of music instruments, influences received and evolution and development of the musical forms of the region. A large number of musicians, scholars and experts participated in the festival and helped in promoting greater understanding as well as appreciation of regional musical identities of the country. The seminar concluded on 22 March with a summing up by Shri Bhaskar Chandavarkar. Smt. Jayashree Banerjee was coordinator of the Mahotsav. The programme follows:

18 March (Evening)
Music Traditions of Delhi

Nafri Ensemble: Yogesh and Group; Dhol Tasha Ensemble: Kamal Kumar and Group; Traditional Women's Songs of Delhi:
Mallika Bannerji and group; Compositions of Hazrat Amir Khusrau and Sufi Traditions of Delhi: Iqbal Ahmed and Group;
Qawwali: Hayat Khan and Group.

19 March (Evening)
Music Traditions of Madhya Pradesh

Sanskar Geet and Barahamasa: Hemlata Upadhyaya and Group; Nirgun Bhajan: Prahlad Singh Tippania; Raja Tejaji Ki Katha:
Ramesh Chauhan and Group; Karma, Saila, Rina and Kaharva: Rafiq Ahmad Khairagarhi and Group; Vasdeva: Chandan
Vasdeva; Kanhara Sangeet: Laxmi Narayan Rajak; Instrumental Ensemble: Mahesh Mishra Madhukar and Group.

20 March 2007 (Evening)
Music Traditions of Chhattisgarh

Pandavani: Punaram Nishad; Sua/Dadaria: Rekha Jalkshtri; Baans Geet: Vikram Yadav; Songs of Bastar: Devram Sodhi/Rupsai
Salam; Songa of Sarguja: Vandana Datta; Dhanku songs: Sumeen Bai Bisen; Instrumental Music of Chhattisgarh: Rakesh Tiwari;
Devar Geet: Basanti Devar and Padma Devar.

21 March 2007 (Evening)
Music Traditions of Uttar Pradesh

Naqqara Ensemble: Aggan Khan and Group, Lucknow; Haveli Sangeet: Dr Satyabhan Sharma and Group, Agra; Bhojpuri,
Awadhi and Sohar of Uttar Pradesh; Dr Parmanand Yadav; Rasia, Ras, Rasleela and Hori: Ram Dayal Sharma and Group,
Delhi; Thumri, Kajri, Chaiti, Hori: Chhanulal Mishra.

Brhaddesi Seminar
19 March 2007 (Morning)
‘Concept and Objectives of Brhaddesi Mahotsav': Bhaskar Chandavarkar; The Vision of Brhaddesi – The Notions of Desi
and Margi: K.D. Tripathi.

Music Traditions of Delhi

‘Regional Music Traditions of Delhi — An Overview': Krishna Bisht; ‘A Musical Analysis of Khusrauvi & Sufi Traditions of
Delhi': Chandra Shekhar; ‘Traditional Women's Songs of Delhi': Mallika Bannerji. Lecture-demonstrations — ‘Musical
Instruments of Delhi' (Dhol, Dholak, Tasha, Marchang, Nafiri, Shehnai, Tabla): Suneera Kasliwal; ‘Paramparik Geet of Delhi
Region with Special Reference to the Songs Based on Mythology, Sehre-suhag, Sawan, Jhula geet, Barahmasa and
Saang': Iqbal Ahmed and Group.

20 March 2007 (Morning)
Music Traditions of Madhya Pradesh

‘Regional Musical Traditions of Madhya Pradesh — An Overview': Kapil Tewari; ‘Musical Distinctiveness of Nirgun Bhajan, Sanskar Geet, Barahmasa, Vasudeva and Khayal': Om

Prakash Chaube; ‘Musical Distinctiveness of Badhai, Baredi and Rai': Vishnu Pathak; ‘Regional Musical Instruments of Madhya Pradesh': Mahesh Kumar Mishra.

21 March 2007 (Morning)
Music Traditions of Chhatisgarh

‘An Overview of the Musical Tradition of Chhattisgarh': Ramkrishna Tewari; ‘The Traditional Songs of Bastar — A Musical Analysis': Niranjan Mahawar; ‘Traditional Song Repertoire of Chhattisgarh with Special Reference to Pandavani, Gourageet and Chaneni': Vimal Pathak. Lecture-demonstrations

— ‘Musical distinctiveness of Dhankul Geet': Harihar Vaishnav; ‘Musical Analysis of Dewar Geet': Rajesh Ganodwale; ‘Distinctive Musical Traits of Baans Geet': Somnath Yadav; ‘Distinctive Musical Traits of Sua and Dadaria': P.C. Lal; ‘Musical Insruments of Chhattisgarh': Rakesh Tiwari.

22 March 2007 (Morning)
Music Traditions of Uttar Pradesh

‘The Regional Music Traditions of Uttar Pradesh — An Overview': Anand Krishna; ‘The Special Characteristics of Haveli Sangeet of Uttar Pradesh': Satyabhan Sharma; ‘The Musical Traditions of Braj Region with Special Reference To Rasia, Rasleela, Hori and Phag': Ram Dayal Sharma. Lecture- demonstrations — ‘Distinctive Music Traits of Dadra & Chaiti': Sucharita Gupta; ‘Sanskar Geet of eastern U.P.': Hari Ram Dwivedi, Varanasi.