Swami Muktinathananda inaugurates ‘Classical Voice of India – 2025’
Lucknow — A three-day national classical music competition commenced in the state capital on Wednesday, bringing together talented vocalists from across the country. The event, organised by the International Buddhist Research Music Milan Organisation, was inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Swami Muktinathananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Math. The ceremony marked the formal launch of Classical Voice of India – 2025.
The inaugural session witnessed the presence of Music Milan founder Pandit Milan Debnath, Secretary Arundhati Choudhary, and members of the distinguished jury panel — Prof. Saubhagyavardhan (Chandigarh), Ustad Wasim Ahmed Khan (Kolkata), and Pandit Shirish Shah (Mumbai). Several eminent guests, including Dr. Nishtha Sharma, Dr. Anjana Mishra, and Sumit Malik, also graced the occasion.
On the opening day, the annual souvenir of Classical Voice of India was released. The publication features highlights of the event, writings by gurus and jury members, participant journeys, selected performances, and future cultural initiatives of Music Milan.
The competition, dedicated entirely to classical vocal music, witnessed captivating performances by participants in the junior, middle, and senior categories. Artists from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tripura, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR added a pan-India flavour to the event.
In his address, Swami Muktinathananda reflected on the spiritual dimension of music, stating that divine realisation lies at the core of human life, and that sur-sadhana is one of the purest paths to experiencing the presence of the divine. He praised Music Milan for its efforts in nurturing classical traditions among the youth and preserving India’s rich cultural heritage.
A total of 27 participants performed on the first day. In the middle category, Niyati Verma from Varanasi mesmerised listeners with her rendition of Raag Multani. In the junior division, Shreyanshi Pahwa from Ludhiana received special appreciation for her traditional dhrupad performance. In the senior category, Alolika Kolay impressed with Raag Bhupali, while Dennis Franklin from Ajmer captivated the audience with an expressive presentation of Raag Todi.
The opening day set a vibrant tone for the remaining two days, filled with anticipation and cultural enthusiasm as the classical music celebration continues.
