Sawai Gandharva Music Festival Pune is usually held in the month of December. This festival pays tribute to the renowned Khayal singer, Pandit Rambhan Kundgolkar, who is also known as Sawai Gandharva. For more than 30 years, Pandit Rambhan Kundgolkar's student Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is organizing this music festival. A number of talented classical singers take part in Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. Pandit Joshi is one among them.
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For observing the death-anniversary of Sawai Gandharva (famous Hindustani vocalist), the festival started in 1953. Sawai Gandharva, and Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal also gave its support to this music mahotsav. This renowned vocalist died on 12th September 1952. Some of his most known disciples are Smt Gangubai Hangal, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Feroz Dastur. After Sawai Gandharva's death, a private concert was held to show respect to their guru. The artists feel honored to perform here. On the other hand, those artists who have completed their Master Degrees also join this music festival for showcasing their talents.
This festival continues for 3 consecutive nights. Here classical and Hindustani singers perform. Dance
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performances can also be enjoyed in this festival. Some of the finest vocalists who participated here, include Pandit Jasraj, Parveen Sultana, Girija Devi, Sajan and Rajan Mishra, Jitendra Abhisheki, Beghum Akhtar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Parameshwar Hegde. On the other hand, the world-famous instrumentalists who came here to perform are Zakir Hussain, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Sultan Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Ramdas Palsule, Milind Tulankar, Sunil, Avachat and Bismillah Khan. Birju Maharaj also performed on this stage.
Though initially there was no such planning that each year this festival will be held, but seeing the excessive popularity, the organizers thought to make it an annual music festival of Pune. Presently, Sawai Gandharva Music Festival Pune is considered to be one of the most prominent music festivals of the country. Its popularity is increasing day by day.
During the first year of this festival only artists of Kirana Gharana used to perform, but presently, artists belonging to different Gharanas take part in this festival. Usually, at the end of this program Pandit Bhimsen Joshi gives his grand performance, which is indeed the center of attraction of Sawai Gandharva Music Festival Pune.
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