Mahindra Kabira Festival Returns in 2021

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | November 11, 2021 | News

Mahindra Kabira Festival Teamwork Arts Sanjoy Roy

Teamwork Arts has announced the 2021 edition of the Mahindra Kabira Festival for a small and select audience of double-vaccinated people from 26 to 28 November 2021 at Varanasi.

The festival celebrates 15th century poet-saint Kabir Das and the wisdom of his verses through its programme offerings. It will feature classical and folk music, talks, live art demonstrations, boat rides, a local food journey and the Ganga Aarti experience.

This will be the fifth edition of the annual Mahindra Kabira Festival, which was cancelled due to the Covid19 pandemic last year.

Jay Shah, Vice President, Head – Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group, said, “Mahindra Kabira Festival 2021 returns with the promise of hope and optimism. It signifies new beginnings in a changed world, a world we can never again take for granted. A world that values compassion and empathy – qualities that Kabir held dear. Our return emphasises resilience and the spirit of Rise, both intrinsic to us at the Mahindra Group. We are delighted to bring back the joy of live performances to Varanasi – a city that is known for its artistry and ancient wisdom – the customary home of Mahindra Kabira. We welcome our delegates and performers and look towards a great festival amidst all safety protocols.”

Sanjoy Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts, said, “Kabir’s teachings are all about inclusiveness and common sense!  Each year, Mahindra Kabira Festival celebrates the inclusive philosophy and syncretic traditions of Kabir bringing to music lovers and those in search of truth an unforgettable experience with a line up that includes Kashmiri folk to Carnatic music with some of the most interesting artistes of our country. We welcome you to be a part of our initiative in bringing back the festival to the ghats of Varanasi.”

Artistes  performing include Malini Awasthi, Kalapini Komkali, Nirali Kartik, Purbayan Chatterjee, Gayatri Asokan, Ranjani Gayatri, Jumma Khan, Askari Naqvi, Pandit Anoop Misra, Raman Iyer, Divyansh Srivastava, Chinmayi Tripathi, Aahvaan Project, Joell Mukherjii, Anirudh Varma and Umesh Kabir.

The festival will also feature a modern version of the play ‘Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein’ written by Bhisham Sahni. Produced by Anirban Ghosh (Baan G) and performed by Dastaan LIVE, the musical piece will showcase songs by MK Raina and create modern reinterpretations based on Kabir's poetry.

Komkali said, “This November will be very special indeed as almost after two years, the Mahindra Kabira Festival is back. I am thrilled to be in front of a live audience and that too in Varanasi!”

“Live performances are opening after a long time and to be on the river Ganga to perform and to mark the comeback of live performances is truly special. This year's Mahindra Kabira Festival would feel like rains on a parched land. People will come back to life and celebrations through music,” said Kartik.

Varma said, “We have been following the Mahindra Kabira Festival since its inception, and are absolutely delighted that we are part of the festival this year. What has always fascinated us is the diverse line up that is curated for the festival, which brings out a multicultural experience and various perspectives to Kabir Das’ work and expressions.”

While attendance to certain events across the two days is free and open to all, the festival has in store customised delegate packages offering curated experiences. 

The detailed artiste line up and programme schedule are to be announced soon at http://mahindrakabira.com.