Lucknow: A press conference was convened in the auditorium of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lucknow, under the chairmanship of the President Prof. Jayant Khot. Present alongside him were the Vice-President Vibha Singh and Director Dr. Shobhit Kumar Nahar.
Prof. Khot outlined the Academy’s ongoing and upcoming activities for the cultural year 2025–26, including an expansive program of music, dance, theatre, and folk art workshops, competitions, and festivals.
The Akademi, in collaboration with schools, colleges, and cultural institutions working in music and theatre across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, will host 15-day, 20-day, and 30-day workshops from May 1 to July 15. These will cover vocal music, instrumental music, classical and folk dances, theatre, puppetry, and more. Notably, workshops will also be held in children’s homes, girls’ homes, and juvenile reform centres, supervised by Vice-President Mrs. Vibha Singh.
A month-long cultural series will also be held in Lucknow from May 27 to June 26, featuring classical vocal music, tabla recitals, Kathak dance, Awadhi folk songs, dramatic performances, and playwriting sessions, with final presentations planned as part of the program’s culmination.
In addition, regional classical music and light music competitions (Bhajan and Ghazal) will be conducted across 19 centres in 18 divisions of the state. Winners from these rounds will qualify for the state-level competitions. The top performers at the state level will be awarded during a Ullas Utsav, a celebratory award ceremony.
The Akademi will also organize three divisional theatre festivals, a state-level theatre festival, and the prestigious Rajya Natya Samaroh (State Drama Festival), which will include one regional and two national-level theatre presentations.
Among the highlights of the cultural calendar are several annual commemorative events, including:
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“Yaadein”: In memory of Ghazal legend Padma Bhushan Begum Akhtar
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“Dharohar”: Celebrating the Akademi’s foundation day
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“Naman”: A two-day tribute on the birth anniversary of Kathak maestro Guru Lachhu Maharaj
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“Pushpanjali”: A homage to Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi
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“Smriti Samaroh” for Guru Swami Haridas ji, with a special performance series in Vrindavan, Mathura, and Agra, featuring distinguished national and international artists in classical vocal, instrumental, and dance traditions.
As part of its ‘Rasmanch’ Scheme, the Akademi will offer free access to the Valmiki Rangshala auditorium for one music and one drama event per eligible cultural organization. Special lecture-demonstration programs will be organized in schools across the state to raise awareness of Indian music and theatre among students.
The Akademi also plans to document and archive the contributions of senior and legendary artists of Uttar Pradesh through dedicated recordings.
Furthermore, the Akademi has initiated proceedings for the Akademi Awards for the years 2021 to 2024, including the B.M. Shah Award and the Safdar Hashmi Award.
In infrastructural developments, retrofitting and facelift work of the Akademi began on April 8, 2025. This includes waterproofing of the administrative and library roofs, and a complete renovation of the Valmiki Rangshala auditorium.
With this comprehensive cultural roadmap, the UP Sangeet Natak Akademi aims to reinforce its commitment to preserving and promoting the rich artistic heritage of Uttar Pradesh.
