Lucknow: The Gomti Book Festival witnessed a melodious highlight as Padma Shri Malini Awasthi delivered a captivating musical performance that left the audience spellbound. She opened the program with a traditional Ganesh Vandana and extended warm Mahalaya greetings, marking the farewell of Pitru Paksha and the onset of Navratri, before beginning her performance with the devotional song “Mai Ke Bhave Lal Chunariya.”
Her repertoire included soul-stirring bhajans such as “Bhawani Pat Kholon” and “Maiya Ka Mandir Dagariya Mein”, which mesmerized the audience. Through the patriotic song “Mat Laiho Chunariya Hamar Videshi Oh Balma”, she reminded students of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to embrace indigenous traditions.
Awasthi also paid tribute to the legendary Banaras singer Gauhar Jan by narrating her tale of love and separation with the emotive rendition of “Sejia Pe Lote Kala Naag Ho, Kachori Gali Soon Kaile Balma”, leaving listeners deeply moved. Her playful yet expressive performance of “Saiya Mile Ladkiyan Main Kya Karun” received enthusiastic applause from the audience, cementing her performance as the program’s main attraction.
