We are proud to announce a unique sitar maintenance workshop by Shambhu Gupta and Punita Gupta . In this workshop participants would learn the basic skills to maintain their sitar in a good form, and get in-depth insight into changing strings, polishing frets, tying frets, dealing with tight or loose pegs. This will be a hands-on workshop at The Bhavan's M.P. Birla Art Gallery. Spaces are limited to 20 participants. Please bring your sitar to the workshop. Sun 15 June | 10.30 am - 4.30pm | 35 ABOUT Shambu ji is a scientist, an engineer and an expert in Sitar maintenance. He repaired sitar for Ravi Shankar for 40 years. Punita ji is a prominent Sitar player and teacher and a senior disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar. PICTURED BELOW - SHAMBHU GUPTA REPAIRING ANOUSHKA SHANKAR'S SITAR

Anantakam is a solo Bharatanatyam recital by Sankari Mridha, an artistic exploration of divine bliss, where movement transforms into boundless joy. Rooted in devotion, it delves into infinite ecstasy through rhythm, expression, and surrender. Guided by Viraja and Shyamjith Kiran, this performance is a spiritual and artistic journey toward the ultimate joy. Accompanied by live music from an exceptional ensemble: Vocal: Vamshikrishna Vishnudas Mridangam: Prathap Ramachandra Flute: Vijay Venkat Nattuvangam: Amritha Jayakrishnan

Nous sommes en 1965, Montral, dans un quartier populaire. Germaine Lauzon, mre au foyer, vient de gagner un million de timbres GoldStar qui lui permettront d'obtenir gratuitement tout un tas d'quipement lectromnager, d'objets de dcoration, des meubles... Comme dit sa fille Linda : "Un million, a en fait des timbres coller !". Heurseusement, Germaine a eu une ide : organiser "une party de collage de timbres". Elle invite ses soeurs, sa belle-soeur, et ses voisines. Mais le bonheur des uns ne fait pas toujours le bonheur des autres. La soire qui devait tre joyeuse et conviviale, va tourner au vinaigre ! Les Belles-surs , cre en 1968 est un monument du Thtre qubcois, et ceci pour plusieurs raisons : - Elle est trs bien crite : il n'y a aucun temps mort et on rit beaucoup. - Elle tmoigne d'une ralit propre la socit canadienne des anns soixante. Contrairement la France, il n'y a pas encore de sparation entre l'Eglise et l'Etat. Il y a comme une chappe de plomb. Michel Tremblay, avec cette pice, jette un pav dans la mare, et participe lui aussi la fameuse "rvolution tranquille" qui durera jusqu' la fin des annes 70. - C'es l'une des premires pices crites et joues en joual, le langage qubecois des milieux populaires. Le joual est marqu par des carts phontiques, lexicaux et des anglicismes. La pice Les Belles-surs a t traduite en diffrentes langues et continue de se jouer travers le monde (Allemagne, Brsil, Canada, Ecosse, Espagne, Etats-Unis, France, Irlande, Isral, Italie, Japon, et Pologne). Le magazine LIRE l'a classe dans sa liste des 49 pices inclure dans la bibliothque idale du thtre des origines nos jours.

Pallavi presents an evening of Bharatanatyam exploring the different facets of love A heroines confessions to her friend about her king whom she longs to be with, a courtesan reprimanding her lover for seducing her with clever words but hollow promises, and a wife spending one last night with her husband before he departs for war. Joining Pallavi on stage will be a distinguished musical ensemble led by Sri. Mavin Khoo. Nattuvangam by Sri Mavin Khoo Vocals by Sri. Vamshikrishna Vishnudas Mridangam by Sri. Prathap Ramachandra Flute by Sri. Vijay Venkat. About the artist: Art and aesthetics form the warp and weft of the fabric of Pallavis life. She began dancing almost right from the start - learning both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam from her mother, Smt. Shalini Shivashankar (who is the Director of the Upahaar School of Dance in London, UK). She deepened her immersion into natya under the guidance of teachers at the Bharata Kalanjali School of Natya, Chennai founded by Natyachaaryas, the Dhananjayans as well as with Smt. Bragha Bessell. Since 2020, Pallavi has studied and performed under the mentorship and guidance of Sri Mavin Khoo. It is an artistic relationship that has refined her technique, added nuance to her understanding and continues to peel back layers of the art form.

Have you ever imagined sculptures coming to life, swaying gracefully to the mystical melodies of East India? This evening, witness that very enchantment as the dancers of Nritya Alaap bring to life the timeless beauty of Odissi. Join us for an evening of divine surrender and artistic splendora celebration where performers and spectators alike immerse themselves in the elegance, spirituality, and profound grace of Indian classical dance. Alongside Odissi, the stage will also welcome talented guest artistes presenting other classical dance forms, creating a vibrant tapestry of Indias rich cultural heritage. This performance will be narrated in English and songs in Sanskrit, Oriya and Hindi. About the artist: Gairika Mathur, a lawyer and disciple of Guru Madhulita Mohapatra, founded Nritya Alaap in 2018 to promote the grace of Odissi dance. Dedicated to artistic excellence, Nritya Alaap has performed at prestigious venues and annually hosts Odissi Sandhya, celebrating classical dance and empowering communities through creativity and movement.

An evening of delightful music by the Divine Duet sisters S Aishwarya and S Saundarya. the Great Granddaughters of Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi and the Granddaughters of Dr Radha Viswanathan.

Sarangi by Harsh Naryan | Sponsored by Dr. Radha Bhat : Harsh Narayan is a leading sarangi player of the younger generation, renowned for his mastery of Hindustani Classical Music. Born into a legendary musical lineage, he is the grandson of sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan, the son of sarod virtuoso Pandit Brij Narayan, and the nephew of Aruna Narayan Kalle. Training under his grandfather since the age of six, Harsh has honed a deep, expressive style that reflects his rigorous musical heritage. An A-graded artist of All India Radio, he has performed and recorded with acclaimed musicians worldwide. His solo albums, Scintillating Sarangi (Times Music, 2016) and Dhanurvadya (Tala Records, 2020), showcase his virtuosity and commitment to keeping the sarangi tradition alive. Flute by Pravin Godkhindi | Sponsored by Kamini & Vindi Banga Banga Trust: Pravin Godkhindi is an eclectic classical flautist, performing Hindustani music on the bansuri. He studied under his father Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi, an exponent of the Kirana gharana, as well as Carnatic mridangist Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma. He incorporates Carnatic rhythm into his playing, and in 2015 became the first to perform Indian classical music on the 8-foot-long contrabass flute.

Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta will present an Odissi performance at the Bhavan as part of the Summer School teachers' concert series 2025. About the artist: Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta is an acclaimed Odissi dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Mumbai. A student of Padmavibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and his disciples, she has led the Dance Department at the NCPA for 13 years. She is the recipient of prestigious awards, including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and the Kanak Nartan Puraskar. Holding a doctorate in Dance and a Masters in Arts Management, she founded the Odissi department at The Bhavan, London, and frequently conducts workshops worldwide.

Vidushi Ruchira Panda will present a Hindustani vocal concert at the Bhavan as part of the Summer School teachers' concert series 2025. Accompanied by Summer School Teacher Pandit Bivash Sengupta on Tabla. About the Artists: Vidushi Ruchira Panda, a leading exponent of the Kotali Gharana, trained under Pandit Manas Chakraborty for over 25 years. She is known for her mastery of Khayal, Thumri, Tappa, and Bhajan, and is an "A" grade artist with All India Radio. Founder of the non-profit Paramparik, she actively promotes cultural, educational, and healthcare initiatives. Pandit Bivash Sengupta trained under Padmabhushan Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh for 18 years and later under Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. A Gold Medalist from Pracheen Kala Kendra, he is an A-Grade artist with All India Radio & Television and an empaneled artist of ICCR & SPIC MACAY. He has performed worldwide, collaborating with maestros like Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan and Pandit Kushal Das.

Dr. S. K. Venkatacharyulu presents a Karnatic Vocal concert as part of the summer school concert series 2025. Accompanied by Vidwan M Balachandar on Tabla Mridangam and Vidwan Balu Raguraman on Violin. About the Artist: Dr. S.K. Venkatacharyulu is a highly respected Carnatic vocalist with over 60 years of experience. Trained by Vidwan S.K. Tirumalacharyulu and Dr. Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana, he holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Music. A recipient of numerous accolades, he has performed globally and mentored many musicians. He is the founder of the Pallavi Academy of Fine Arts.

Dr. Abhay Shankar Mishra will present a Kathak recital at the Bhavan as part of the Summer School teachers' concert series 2025. About the artist: Dr. Abhay Shankar Mishra is one of the leading exponents of Kathak dance in the UK and in the world today. A mesmerizing performer, dynamic teacher, and creative choreographer of Kathak, Abhay currently lives and works in India. Born into a family steeped in musical tradition and trained under world-renownedGurus, namely Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, Smt Urmila Nagar Ji and late Pandit Pandey Maharaj, Abhay had the unique experience of learning all three of the major Gharanas of Kathak, i.e., Lucknow, Jaipur, and Banaras. He draws on his vast experience to achieve a beautiful blend of all three Gharanas in his work.

Dr. Soundarya Srivathsa will present a Bharatanatyam performance at the Bhavan as part of the Summer School teachers' concert series 2025. About the Artist: Hailing form the Pandanallur School of Dance, Dr. Soundarya Srivathsa, a disciple of Guru Smt. Narmada and Guru Smt. Bhanumathi, is known for her precise footwork and consummate abhinaya. Along with her singer-husband, D.S Srivathsa, she heads the institute NARTANA KEERTANA Centre for Performing Arts. A doctoral degree awarded by Bangalore University for the thesis on the 'Application of classical Dnace forms in South indian Cinema.' 'Thyagaraja', 'Padmanabha Namostutae', 'Jagadanandakaraka', 'Ambae', 'Draupadi', 'Maitreyi', 'Sister Nivedita' and 'Sapthagiri' are some of the highly successful dance productions that she choreographed. she teaches at the Jain University as a guest faculty for the post graduate students in dance.

Guru Vanashree Rao & her students will present a Bharatanatyam performance at the Bhavan as part of the Summer School teachers' concert series 2025. About the Artist: A celebrated Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, and guru, Guru Vanashree Rao has received over 600 national and international awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. She has pioneered cross-disciplinary choreographic works, blending Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, and Chhau.

Celebrate the talents of all the students as they perform on the Bhavan stage as a part of the Summer School 2025 finale. TICKETS - 14 at the venue/12 if booked online. Use the code 'BVB2025' to get your discount while booking

Celebrate the talents of all the students as they perform on the Bhavan stage as a part of the Summer School 2025 finale. TICKETS - 14 at the venue/12 if booked online. Use the code 'BVB2025' to get your discount while booking

Bengal Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with The Bhavans and Contact Base, India, proudly presents Fagun Fest 2025, an immersive cultural experience that brings the soul of Bengal to the heart of London. This annual celebration of Bengals artistic and musical heritage will take place on 31 May 2025, Saturday at The Bhavans, London. Additional collaborators include London Sharad Utsav and banglanatok.com, further enriching the events cultural diversity and reach. The central theme of Fagun Fest is Bringing the Soul of Bengal to the Heart of London, encapsulating the essence of India and Bengals rich cultural traditions and artistic vibrancy. The festival aims to bridge communities by showcasing traditional Indian art, music, and culinary heritage to a global audience, creating a platform for cultural exchange and appreciation. Fagun Fest 2025 will feature three distinct segments that celebrate Indias artistic and cultural diversity: 1. Artworks of India 2. Traditional Food from India 3. Music from Bengal The festival will be hosted at The Bhavans, London, providing an immersive setting where visitors can experience Bengals artistic brilliance, indulge in its rich culinary traditions, and be mesmerized by the melodies of its musical heritage. The evening promises to be a cultural spectacle, fostering deeper connections between communities through the shared love for art, food, and music. Flow of the Event 330 pm - Door opens for handicraft exhibition (Kantha and Warli Painting) and traditional food stalls 530 pm - Music performance starts 830 pm - Programme closes Fagun Fest 2025 aspires to be more than just an event; it is a cultural movement that transcends borders and generations. Through this festival, Bengal Heritage Foundation and its collaborators seek to create a vibrant space where heritage meets contemporary expressions, ensuring that the timeless traditions of Bengal and India continue to inspire and enthrall audiences worldwide. Join us in celebrating the heart and soul of Bengal in London!