15 October 2016: New Delhi : In the simple lyrical verses
of Kabir lie the answers to our most complex spiritual questions. And
for three days in November, the Darbhanga and Assi ghats of Varanasi
will reverberate with the soulful music inspired by Kabir, the enigmatic
15th century mystic-poet. The Mahindra Kabira Festival will run from
4th to 6th November, 2016, offer a haunting and immersive experience of
imbibing Kabir’s philosophies and the lyrical aspect of his teachings
through a programme which will celebrate Kabir’s passion and verse
linking them inextricably with the fascinating spirit of Varanasi, his
birthplace.
The Mahindra Group & Teamwork Arts have crafted a
unique annual festival in Varanasi - a city that perfectly encapsulates
Kabir’s idea of inclusiveness and diversity. The festival promises a
journey of inspirational music along with heritage walks, literature
sessions, food and yoga. Three unhurried days of losing the mundane as
you meander through the bylanes of the city, meditate on the banks of
the holy Ganga to find your elusive inner self, savour the local
Banarasi cuisine and shop at the quaint shops behind every gully and
nook -- whatever you do, you will find that the endless city has more to
offer.
Kabir Cafe
Mahindra Kabira Festival - PR Image
Prahlad Singh Tipanya
Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty
Rajan Sajan Misra
Shabnam Virmani
Shabnam Virmani
“We
are delighted to introduce the Mahindra Kabira Festival (MKF). MKF will
be an annual music festival celebrating Kabir and offering a holistic
experience of Varanasi and its many facets, going beyond music. It is
fitting that we at Mahindra have the privilege of celebrating the life
and works of the weaver poet – his theologies and philosophies are woven
like tapestry into the culture and DNA of the Mahindra Group. This
festival is a continuation and an expansion of our commitment towards
celebrating and promoting the arts,” says Anand Mahindra, Chairman,
Mahindra Group.
Visitors, music-lovers and spiritual-seekers
will get an unforgettable experience of listening to the leading
exponents of the Benares gharana and folk musical traditions, luminaries
of Sufi, dadra, thumri, khayal gayaki styles, of ghazals along with the
maestros of pakhawaj and tabla, against the incomparable backdrop of
the ghats of Varanasi. The experience shall be amplified with languid
afternoon literature sessions around Kabir and his philosophy, the taste
of local food down the streets of the city and wondrous musical
evenings as the sun sets on the Ganga.
Sanjoy Roy, M.D,
Teamwork Arts says, “The Mahindra Kabira Festival is an amazing platform
to revisit Kabir, especially in current times. The underlying theme, in
keeping with Teamwork’s commitment to the arts, is to provide an
exceptional experience replete with the spiritual and the intellectual
to visitors. Soulful music interspersed heritage walks, literature
sessions, gastronomic forays and all along, the rich ancient city of
Varanasi, both in the foreground and the background. The festival will
truly be an unforgettable experience.”
While attendance to the
events across the three days is free and open to all, customized
delegate packages offer a curated experience of the festival. The
exclusive packages, with various options, will essentially be an
experience which will begin from the moment you step foot in Varanasi.
It will give you an opportunity to live out the history of one of the
world’s oldest cities and experience its overpowering character amidst
regal splendor, breathe in the ambience through specially-designed
heritage walks, taste the delectable flavours on food trails.
The Programme:
Opening Reception
An
opening reception on the evening of the 4th of November will feature a
spectacular local group from Varanasi singing songs of Kabir, followed
by a poetry and “in conversation” session with Shabnam Virmani &
Vipul Rikhi.
Morning Music at the Darbhanga Ghat
The
day at Mahindra Kabira begins with an invigorating Morning Music
programme, featuring Kabir stalwarts such as Shabnam Virmani & Vipul
Rikhi and Azeem Ahmed Alvi along with brilliant Varanasi-based
musicians Atul Shankar and Pandit Debashish De who will perform at the
Darbhanga Ghat.
Literature Sessions on the Ganga
Perfectly
coupled with the languor of lazy afternoons would be Mahindra Kabira’s
literary sessions on themes around Kabir’s life, his lyrics and
teachings, and the timeless (ageless) city of Varanasi, held on the
terraces of the Brij Rama Palace Hotel. One can breathe in the scent of
this incomparable city, sip on chai, bite into a samosa, stare at the
omniscient river all around as the likes of Amish Tripathi and Javed
Akhtar bring alive Kabir through the passion and verse of discourse and
debate.
Heritage & Food Walks
Varanasi
is a food haven, a juggernaut of sharp bursting flavours, of delectable
melt-in-the-mouth kachoris, chaat, parathas, malai-mar-ke (topped with
cream) lassi and paan. Follow the food trail from the famous Kashi Chaat
Bhandar to the little stalls of Kachori. Visit Kabir Math, Sankat
Mochan Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple, see the weavers at work
translating fantasy into golden reality and more.
Evening Music on Assi Ghat
Kabira
days will end with a grand finale - at Assi Ghat, with evening music
programmes featuring the likes of Rajan & Sajan Mishra, Mir
Mukhtiyar Ali, Kabir Café, Vidya Shah, Prahlad Tipaniya, Shabnam Virmani
& Vipul Rikhi and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. In an unforgettable
tableau, unique to Varanasi, the musicians will be staged on the river
facing the ghat where audiences will be seated.
Entry: Free Registration
Delegate Packages: http://mahindrakabira.com/
For further information, please visit:http://mahindrakabira.com/
About Mahindra Group:
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions
that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles
and increase business efficiency.
A USD 17.8 billion
multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra provides employment
opportunities to over 200,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra
operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a
leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information
technology, financial services and vacation ownership. In addition,
Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace,
components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment,
logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two
wheeler industries.
In 2015, Mahindra & Mahindra was
recognized as the Best Company for CSR in India in a study by the
Economic Times. In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a
comprehensive listing of the world’s largest, most powerful public
companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The
Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’
Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category in 2013.
About Teamwork Arts:
For over 25 years, Teamwork Arts has taken India to the world and
brought the world to India. In countries such as Australia, Canada,
Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Korea, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain, UK and USA, Teamwork produces over 25 highly
acclaimed performing arts, visual arts and literary festivals across
more than 40 cities. Teamwork produces one of the world’s largest free
literary gatherings, the annual ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival,
international festivals Shared History in South Africa, Eye on India in
the United States of America, India by the Bay in Hong Kong, and many
more.
