Chhayanaut hosts Shuddha Sangeet Utshab

The two-day long ‘Chhayanaut Shuddha Sangeet Utshab’, featuring both vocal and instrumental music, concluded early morning today at its main auditorium in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The annual festival, comprising of two sessions was the 13th iteration of the event.

Eminent tabla exponent Pandit Pabitra Mohan Dey from Mymensingh inaugurated the festival as chief guest, while Khairul Anam Shakil, the Vice-President of Chhayanaut, delivered a welcome address, elaborating on the importance of the festival.

Chhayanaut artistes set off the event with a chorus performance of Ashtaprohor Raga, showcasing eight ragas, representing all the prohor. Guru Razwan Ali directed the performance.

Renowned vocalist Satindranath Haldar next took the stage to render a kheyal set on Raga Puria. Seasoned artiste Anil Kumar Saha performed Raga Puria Dhaneshree, while Swarnamoy Chakraborty sang a kheyal based on Raga Marwa.

Noted flautist Murtaza Kabir Murad presented a solo recital of Raga Bhupali. Ahmed brothers -- Sabuj Ahmed (tabla), Shanto Ahmed (violin) and Kamrul Ahmed (flute) -- beautifully performed their set.

Starting from the evening of December 20, the nightlong second session continued till the early hours of today. Apart from chorus and group performances by artistes of Chhayanaut, several noted and promising vocalists, like Khairul Anam Shakil, Razwan Ali, Asit Kumar Dey, Shekhar Mondal, Bizon Chandra Mistry and Shrabanti Dhar performed kheyal music. Abhijit Kundu and Tinku Shil rendered a duet vocal performance at the festival. Minhazul Hasan Emon, Suptika Mondal, Parag Pratim Chakraborty performed at the session.

Soloists Ananya Rozario (table) Ebadul Huq Shaikat (sitar) and Rajrupa Chowdhury (sarod) and Alauddin Mian (violin) presented instrumental recitals at the nightlong session. The festival, aiming to inspire the practice of classical music in Bangladesh, was a memorable one.