Music stalwarts cast spell on city audience on fifth day

Varanasi: The enthusiasm of the audience reached its peak on the fifth evening of the seven-day Sankat Mochan Music Festival here on Friday, when flute maestro Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia took the center stage and presented a composition in Raag Maru Bihag along with Vivek Sonar and Vaishnavi. He also presented a Bhajan.
In the next presentation, noted singer Pt. Venkatesh Kumar from Dharwad enthralled the audience by singing in Raag Kaushi Kanada. He also presented a Tappa and Bhajan.
He was accompanied by Keshav Joshi on Tabla and Mohit Sahni on Samvadini. Renowned dancer of Jaipur Gharana Pt. Rajendra Gangani stirred the stage through Kathak dance. Beginning with Ganga Stuti, he gave a panoramic presentation of traditional dance style in three beats.
He was accompanied by Pandit Sanju Sahay on tabla, Fateh Singh Gangani on Pakhawaj, Shamiullah Khan (vocal), Dhruvnath Mishra on sitar and Atul Shankar on flute.
In the next performance, Sitar maestro Pt. Niladri Kumar shared the stage with Tabla magician Pt. Kumar Bose. Neeladri Kumar gave a brief break to the performance by performing a composition in Raga Jaijaiwanti on Sitar.
He was followed by noted Bhajan singer Pt Anoop Jalota along with his co-artistes. In the next performance, Dr. Prabhakar Diwakar Kashyap mesmerized the audience with his rendition.
With the dawn break in the seventh presentation, the venue echoed with the vocal and sitar presentation by Ankush N.
He was accompanied by Rajneeth Tiwari on the tabla.
In the last presentation of the fifth night, Sarod maestro Pt. Basant Kabra from Jodhpur performed Raga Bilastodi.
He was accompanied by Samar Saha on tabla.