Lucknow: The 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram” was celebrated with grandeur at the Vande Mataram ceremony organized by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi (UPSNA) at Sant Gadge Ji Maharaj Auditorium. The event showcased a vibrant blend of dance, vocal, and instrumental performances, highlighting the rich heritage of Indian music and culture.
Padum Narayan Dwivedi, State Information Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, was the Chief Guest, while Dr. Devendra Tripathi, Regional Secretary of the UPSNA Lucknow Centre, graced the event as a Special Guest. In his address, Dwivedi emphasized that “Vande Mataram continues to inspire the citizens of our nation” and noted that music possesses the unique ability to unite people. Citing Lord Shiva of Prayagraj and the primordial damaru, he elaborated on how Indian classical music is believed to have originated from Shiva’s divine rhythms.
Prof. Jayant Khot, President of the Akademi, highlighted the institution’s achievements in promoting budding talent while preserving and nurturing classical and endangered art forms. The Chief Guest and Special Guest were felicitated with angavastras, mementos, and floral bouquets by Prof. Khot, Vice-President Vibha Singh, and Director Dr. Shobhit Kumar Nahar.
The program commenced with a soulful rendition of “Vande Mataram” by Kamala Kant and his team. Under the expert guidance of RJ Sameer, the ceremony featured performances by winners of the Akademi’s music competitions. The ensemble included flute by Arthav Pratap Singh, sitar by Sankalp Mishra, and tabla by Soham Mishra and Aradhya Praveen, culminating in a melodious rendition of Vande Mataram in Raag Des.
The event concluded with a beautiful Kathak performance by students of the Kathak Centre, Lucknow, including instructors Nita Joshi, Shruti Sharma, Rajni Verma, along with Rajiv Shukla, Archana Yadav, and 55 enthusiastic students, winning widespread appreciation. The festival reaffirmed that Hindustani classical music continues to flow through the hands of children, adolescents, and youth in Uttar Pradesh like an ever-flowing river.
