Lucknow: Lucknow witnessed a cultural swell on Saturday as Repertwahr Festival Season 13 built powerfully toward its crescendo on Day 3 at Janeshwar Mishra Park. Under the open sky, the city immersed itself in a final surge of stories, rhythms, laughter, and shared joy, with thousands streaming in to celebrate the arts in all their vibrant forms.
From theatre and music to literature, comedy, food, and crafts, the festival transformed the park into a pulsating open-air cultural commons. Families, students, artists, and art lovers from across Lucknow gathered through the evening, creating an atmosphere charged with warmth, curiosity, and collective celebration.
On the SHABD stage, renowned dastangoi practitioners Himanshu Bajpai and Dr Pragya Sharma breathed life into ancient oral storytelling traditions. Their evocative narratives—woven from history, personal memory, and contemporary reflections—held audiences spellbound, reaffirming the timeless power of spoken word. As dusk settled, singer-songwriter Justh took over with a soulful indie set, performing beloved tracks such as Chor, Tum, and Dhoondta Hoon. His mellow acoustics and introspective lyrics sparked quiet sing-alongs, shared nostalgia, and moments of gentle introspection among listeners.
Meanwhile, RANG Theatre hosted the stirring play Vodka and No Tonic, directed by Lillete Dubey and adapted from Shobhaa Dé’s Lockdown Liaisons. Featuring Lillete Dubey, Ira Dubey, and Joy Sengupta, the production explored the emotional landscapes of pandemic-era relationships. Through intimate vignettes set within confined homes, the play examined love, loneliness, desire, and rediscovery, resonating deeply with audiences through its raw honesty and nuanced performances.
Laughter rang out at the MAHOL Comedy Arena as Gaurav Gupta delivered sharp, relatable humour rooted in middle-class family chaos and everyday absurdities. Just steps away, the TAAL Silent Disco turned into a playground of carefree movement, with DJ Laapata’s house and techno beats coursing through headphones as dancers lost themselves to the rhythm.
Beyond the stages, the festival’s Food Arena brimmed with Awadhi delicacies, while the Artisanal Bazaar showcased handcrafted treasures. The BACHPAN kids’ zone buzzed with colour and activity, ensuring that Day 3 remained a wholesome, all-ages celebration.
The night soared to its peak at the MAHOL Music Arena with Nikhil Chinapa’s electrifying electronic set, as flashing lights and throbbing beats sent waves of energy through an ecstatic crowd. As Day 3 drew to a close, Repertwahr Festival reaffirmed its place as one of Lucknow’s most cherished cultural gatherings—where stories, sounds, and shared joy come together in unforgettable harmony.
