Lucknow: The opening evening of the Gauraiya Sanskriti Mahotsav, organised by the Gauraiya Sanskriti Sansthan, was a soulful celebration of Indian classical music, culture, and womanhood. The audience was immersed in devotional fervour as the celebrated father-son duo — Padma Bhushan Pt. Sajan Mishra and Swaraansh Mishra — enthralled listeners with their melodious renditions.
Held with the support of the Department of Culture and the Lucknow Development Authority, the event also honoured eminent women achievers with the Gauraiya Nari Shakti Samman. Among those felicitated were Kathak danseuse Aarti Shukla, athlete Sudha Singh, writer Satya Singh, social worker Hema Pandey, and folk singer Sanjoli Pandey, who were recognised for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
The evening began with a mesmerizing performance by Pt. Sajan Mishra and Swaraansh Mishra, who presented Raag Bageshwari and a composition in Teen Taal — “Ae Ri Sakhi Ghar Kaise Jaaun, Jamuna Jal Kaise Bhar Laun”. The soulful recital transported the audience into a world of devotion and musical serenity. They were accompanied by Dharmanath Mishra on harmonium, Vinayak on sarangi, and Rajesh Mishra on tabla.
Adding to the vibrancy, Amit Dixit Ramji’s troupe beautifully enacted episodes from Lord Krishna’s leelas, captivating the audience with expressive storytelling. Vocalist Suchita Manoj Pandey presented a series of melodious Awadhi folk songs — including “Amwa Mahua Ke Jhoome Daari” and “Tum Utho Siya Shringar Karo, Dhanush Ram Ne Toda Hai” — that resonated deeply with the listeners.
The evening commenced with a group rendition of “Vande Mataram” by Shikha Srivastava, Sunita Singh, Seema Agarwal, Amita Dwivedi, Nikita Mishra, Deepika Mishra, Jyoti Pandey, Madhuri Singh, Lata Tiwari, and Neelima Tiwari. Their devotional and folk performances, including “Jai Jai Sharda Bhavani Har Pal Rakho Bhavani” and “Neek Laage Sita Ke Sajanwa”, set a reverent tone for the event. Dancer Shikha Srivastava’s performance on “Nayi Jhoolani Ki Chhaiya” won hearts for its grace and emotion.
The stage also came alive with folk presentations and traditional Awadhi lok geet, including Nakta and Badhai songs. Young performers such as Pooja Srivastava (bhajan), Mahita Pandey (kajri), and Rashmi Singh (folk song “Bol Ram Aaye Siya Ke Sang”) showcased their talent. The evening further featured energetic performances by Anita Mishra, Arya Srivastava, Ranjana, Gargi, Smriti Mishra, and Uttarakhand’s BRT Dance Group.
Speaking about the event, Ranjana Mishra, President of Gauraiya Sanskriti Sansthan, shared that the second day of the Mahotsav will feature Sanskrit vocal recital by Madhavi Madhukar Jha, folk songs by Radha Srivastava, light classical music by Yamini Pandey, and a dance drama presented by Sangeeta Ahuja’s troupe.
Prominent guests in attendance included Sushil Kumar Srivastava (Assistant Commissioner, GST), MLC Pawan Singh Chauhan, Girish Chandra Mishra (Vice President, UP State Lalit Kala Akademi), Mayor Sushma Kharakwal, singer Vimal Pant, Ajay Srivastava (Divisional Manager, LIC), poet Mohammad Ali Sahil, former Programme Officer Kamlesh Pathak, Registrar Mahendra Bhishm, and Deputy Commissioner Kanhaiya Lal Tiwari.
The event was ably coordinated by Utkarsh Dwivedi, Gagan Sharma, and Meethu Rai, marking a vibrant start to the cultural celebration that beautifully blended devotion, art, and tradition.
