Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jaiveer Singh, highlighted the unifying power of music and its ability to alleviate loneliness during the closing ceremony of Summer Cultural Workshops organized by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi. The event was held at the Sant Gadgeji Auditorium in Gomti Nagar, where artists aged 5 to 75 showcased their talents in dance, music, and drama.
Speaking as the chief guest, Minister Jaiveer Singh emphasized, “Music doesn’t just connect individuals to themselves, but also binds society together. Even in this age of advanced technology, the Department of Culture continues to connect people through dance and art.”
He added that under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the leadership of the Chief Minister, the state has implemented a policy to preserve and promote India’s rich heritage of performing arts, linking educational and non-governmental institutions in all 75 districts under the ‘Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi’ initiative.
19,000 Participants Across UP, Over 300 from Lucknow Alone
Minister Singh revealed that this year’s workshops drew a massive 19,000 participants statewide, with over 300 from Lucknow alone. From village panchayats to schools, jails, and NGOs, workshops were held on traditional and endangered art forms like Dhrupad, Dhammar, Sarangi, Shehnai, Pakhawaj, Guitar, Alha-Birha, and Tappa.
Singh also announced several new initiatives:
- Artists registered with the Department of Culture will now require special permission to perform in more than three programs annually.
- Artist performances will be uploaded on the department’s official website to ensure transparency.
- Efforts are ongoing to digitally categorize artists based on their specializations, and to preserve vanishing art forms.
Workshops Celebrate Guru-Shishya Tradition
Workshops in all 75 districts were conducted on a grand scale, embracing the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-student tradition). A special performance-based theatre workshop for girls from the Kol tribal community was organized in Chitrakoot, while workshops on mask-making and puppetry were held in Varanasi.
Notably, 74-year-old music artist Kewal Kumar was lauded for his lifelong dedication to the arts.
Rich Line-Up of Performances
The event featured performances in:
- Classical Vocal Music: Under Rahul Awasthi’s direction, participants rendered Raag Bhopali and Raag Bihag with compositions like “Jaaun Tore Charan Kamal Wari”.
- Semi-Classical Music: Under Ustad Gulshan Bharti, participants sang Dadra, Thumri, and Tappa compositions like “Saanwariya Ne Jadoo Daala” and “Main Ta Chaal Pehchaani”.
- Tabla: Under Dr. Pawan Kumar, tabla players impressed with rhythmic patterns in Teentaal, Rupak, and Keharwa.
- Folk Singing: Directed by Kewal Kumar, performances included “Bhole Baba Ke Charanan Mein” and “O Chanda Jaiyo Birna Ke Deswa”.
- Kathak Dance: Directed by Dr. Manju Malkani and Neeta Joshi, dancers performed pieces such as “Rangi Saari Gulabi Chunariya”, “Chaap Tilak”, and “Main To Piya Se Naina Lada Aayi”. A differently-abled participant also received a standing ovation for a moving Kathak performance.
The event concluded with a seamless emceeing by Mahita Diwaskar.
Dignitaries in Attendance
- The ceremony was graced by several notable guests, including:
- Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of Culture, Tourism & Religious Affairs
- Prof. Jayant Khot, President of UP Sangeet Natak Akademi
- Padma Shri Malini Awasthi,
- JP Singh, Advisor, Department of Tourism
- Dr. Shobhit Kumar Nahar, Director of the Akademi
- Vibha Singh, Vice President, UP Sangeet Natak Akademi
- The final leg of the statewide summer workshops will conclude on July 14, 2025, in Sambhal district.
