Sawai fest venue in Mukund Nagar

PUNE: Finally, the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal’s Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav has found a venue to conduct the 66th festival, which will be held between December 12 and 16 at Maharashtriya Mandal Sports Complex in Mukund Nagar, said Executive President of the Mandal Shrinivas Joshi. 

Interestingly, two days ago, when Joshi in a press conference had announced that the Deccan Education Society’s Ramanbaug School ground, which was its venue for last 32 years, had denied permission to conduct the festival, had become a talking point in the city.  Joshi said, “Late Pt Bhimsen Joshi has close connections with Maharashtriya Mandal and remembering that, Chief Secretary of MM Dhananjay Damle came forward and offered the ground as the venue for the festival.“

“Similarly, after the news broke out that the Ramanbaug won’t be available, there were numerous phone calls and enquiries regarding it. This incident also showed that there are many institutes/organisations that are ready to lend their grounds for the festival,” said Joshi.

The festival was started to pay tribute to Master Sawai Gandharva by Pt Bhimsen Joshi. 

An audience of at least 10,000 to 15,000 people attend the festival every year. Till date, the festival has been delayed only twice, once due to heavy rainfall at the time, and once when there was an upsurge in the swine flu in the city. DES had formed a sports training programme for students at all its schools, under which training will be provided to students in 10 different sports. Hence, the society has decided that the grounds of its schools will not be rented out for any other event apart from those of sports from now onwards.