Prayagraj – The sacred grounds of Mahakumbh 2025 witnessed a grand influx of devotees, making every day seem like an auspicious bathing day. The Ganga Pandal, a hub of cultural and spiritual activities, reverberated with mesmerizing performances of dance, music, and devotion.
The first performance of the day was by renowned Odissi dancer, Padma Shri awardee and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, Guru Gangadhar Pradhan’s disciple, Aruna Mohanty. She captivated the audience with her dance compositions. Her inaugural presentation, Shiva Dheemahi, was a tribute to Lord Nataraja, depicting Lord Shiva’s divine acts of holding Goddess Ganga in his locks, adorning the crescent moon on his forehead, and consuming the Kalakuta poison during the Samudra Manthan, resulting in his blue throat. The performance concluded with a spectacular rendition of the Tandava dance.
Her second presentation, Rasa Ramayana, brought alive the Navarasas through dance. The enactment of the heroic and romantic aspects of Ramayana included sequences such as the breaking of Lord Shiva’s bow, the meeting of Lord Rama and Sita in Panchavati, the episode of Shurpanakha, the battle of Jatayu, the construction of Ram Setu, and the final war between Lord Rama and Ravana.
The second performance of the event was by the renowned musical duo, Sourendra and Soumyajit, who have enthralled audiences at prestigious events such as the G20 Summit and tributes to national icons like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore. Their soulful presentation at the Ganga Pandal left the audience spellbound. The duo seamlessly blended piano and vocals to deliver a captivating experience. Their repertoire included devotional and classical compositions ranging from Mirabai’s bhajans to modern compositions by A.R. Rahman. The performance began with the powerful Vakratunda Mahakaya, Suryakoti Samaprabha in honor of Lord Ganesha, followed by Vaishnav Jan To which immersed the audience in devotion. Their heartfelt rendition of O Paalanhaare from A.R. Rahman’s compositions was met with immense appreciation. The duo also performed Ahe Murare, Kunja Murare by Jayadeva. They concluded with a special song composed exclusively for Mahakumbh, which was presented for the first time to the audience. The grand finale was marked by the iconic Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, which resonated deeply with the gathering.
The final act of the evening featured renowned Hindustani classical flutist, Shri Chetan Joshi. A disciple of musical stalwarts such as Acharya Jagdish, Pandit Bhola Nath Prasanna, Pandit Raghunath Seth, and Pandit Ajay Chakraborty, Joshi is also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Jharkhand State Cultural Honor. His flute recital celebrated the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, as well as the essence of the Kumbh Mela. He began with Raag Pahadi to represent the Ganga, followed by a soulful rendition of the bhajan Jamuna Kinare Moro Gaon to depict the Yamuna. Raag Saraswati paid homage to the goddess of wisdom and learning, while Raag Desh symbolized national unity and the spirit of Kumbh.
The event concluded with the felicitation of the performers by executive officer Shri Kamlesh Kumar Pathak and senior advisor Gauri Basu, who presented them with certificates and ceremonial shawls. The program was seamlessly anchored by Abhijeet Mishra, ensuring an evening of divine and cultural splendor at the Mahakumbh 2025.
