Pune Festival

With a glorious history of the past, Pune Festival has been recognised as the most important cultural events of the year.Featuring world renowed folk and classical musicians, dancers and other artists, it has carved a niche for itself in the culture of India.

This year is the 11th glorious year of Pune festival. It begins with the "Shobha-Yatra"- the procession of folk-artists from all over India presenting the rich culture, heritage together with classical recitals of Indian music concerts.Urdu Mushahara ,dramas in various languages depict the many dimensions of this unique event. Adventurous sports, trecks make the festival a worth attending for sports lovers too.

Food lovers will love to attend the food-festival, while enjoying the art of Rangoli, Mehandi and Flower shows. "indradhanu" is an event to cultivate aspiring, local talents. The "Lawani-mahotsav" , "Bhajans", "Kuchipudi dance", "Odissi dance" are among the traditional cultural feasts offered which also make the attraction to domestic as well as foreign tourists.

Thus this festival is treated as 'one event many dimensions'.-the festival of festivals.

This year it was held from 18th to 24th September'99 in this eleventh year of celebrations. It is being organised by the Pune festival committee with the active cooperation of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Tourism Development Corporation of India on a far grander scale.

The festival was inaugurated at the hands of veteran film actor Shri.Amitabh Bacchan. The big-B arrived to the stage with Pune festival committee chairman Shri. Sureshbhai Kalamadi,M.P. & Shri. Krushnakant Kudale, Chief Coordinator of Pune -Festval.

Photograph By Vinayak Bogam

The star attraction in the inauguration function was Bharatnatyam and Odissi dance by Hemamalini and her daughter Esha. The mother -daughter duo presented delighted dance recitals.

Pune festival organised Lawani-mahotsav also celebtating the popular, earthy dances .

The Pune festival took of a full steam on its second day at Ganesh kala krida manch. Anup Jalota's famous ghazal "mohe aye na jagase laj" filled up colour in the mehefil. Then come some popular bhajans which even youth enjoyed because of some improvisations in the originals.The best elelment of the show was the jugalbandi between him and santoor-player.

Meenakshi Sheshadri in her Kuchipudi recital started with a Ganesh vandana and went on to present Ashta-Lakshmi depicting the different images of Indian women in the form of goddess Lakshmi, Sarswati and Parwati. She ended the show with a tribute to Shiva.

Grammy award winner Pt.Vishva Mohan Bhatt performed very well on the same night. at Ganesh kala krida manch.

A get together of Marathi humorous poets- "Marathi Hasya Dhara" was held at Balgandharv Rang mandir.

In Balgandharv Art-gallery the exhibution of paintings was held by "Chitari Acedamy of Arts,Pune"

"Chitralaya" and the "Omkar-darshan" by Vikrant Chavan, Mrs.Chavan the photographs and paintings of Ganesha.

And the exhibution of the drawings , paintings by Ms.Ashish Sharma who has shown Ganesha in alphabates

was the great attraction to all. She draws Ganesha irrespective of region,religion and language. Her 'Ganesha' has already found his seat in all the alphabates of 16 languages and Limca book of Records has recorded this rare achievement.

A number of other programes like Indradhanu- with the participation of local artistes, a humorous program Hasya panchami to Hasya pasashthi, 'Dayro'-a Gujarathi kala sanskruti, a musical recital by Dr.Venna Sahastrbudhe and many other programes were presented during the festival.

In sports section there was 'Kille-Shivneri' treck and thrilling Motor-cycle rally.

Thus the festival of the festivals aims to preserve, present and promote the rich heritage of the performing arts, the culture and customs of people who celebrates every joyous moment of their lives.