On the occasion of Guru Purnima and the International Yoga Festival 2025, the Foundation for Krishna Kala Education Society hosted a grand cultural event at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi.
The festival brought together renowned and emerging artists who paid tribute to their gurus through classical dance and performance.
To begin with, the organisers lit a ceremonial lamp and performed a Guru Vandana. After that, solo artists took the stage.
Shambhavi Verma (Kathak), Ananya (Odissi), Khanak (Kathak), Pihu Piyush (Kathak), Sahar Anamika Haider (Kathak), Sanvi (Bharatanatyam), and Shreya (Kathak) impressed the audience with grace and precision.
Duets and groups add spark to the evening
Next, duet performances brought freshness and flair. Audiences appreciated the duos of Anandi Mishra & Mannat Dogra, Sreejita & Suneeshka Bhattacharya, Divija Sapra & Shubhra Khanijo, Tavishiu, Kiyosha & Sanskriti, and Diya & Arna.
Group dances are followed with dynamic energy. Participants included Uphaar Dance Company – Upasana (7 members), Ashtanayika Group (8 members), Aarambh Music & Dance Academy (4 members), Akhand Nupur Dhwani Dance Centre (5 members), and Uphaar Dance Company – Rahul Gangani (5 members).
Meanwhile, Yoga Guru Shri Amit Kumar Chauhan and his team conducted a special yoga demonstration. The performance added spiritual depth and balance to the programme.
Subsequently, renowned gurus performed solo presentations. These included Guru Sangeeta Kulshreshtha (Bharatanatyam), Shri Shubham Kesari (Kathak), Vidushi Manvi Chaturvedi (Bharatanatyam), Rahul Gangani & Vidushi Upasana (Kathak), Vidushi Pooja Owlekar (Kathak), and Vidushi Brijesh Kumari (Kathak). Each showcased powerful interpretations of classical themes.
Speakers reflect on the Guru-Shishya bond
In the second session, scholars and artists shared their thoughts in a symposium.
Eminent speakers included Dr Sushil Bharti, Dr Anita Sharma, Dr Shashi Prabha, Smt Amrit Neelam, Padma Shri Nalini-Kamalini Ji, Guru Nandini Singh Ji, Prof Ramesh Gaur, Dr M Rahmatullah, Sangeeta Kulshreshtha Ji, Dr Atasi Mishra, Shri Sadanand Vishwas, Shruti Sinha Ji, Captain Shyam Kumar, Guru Subhash Chandra Ji, Prof Alka Agrawal, Shri Rajesh Pandey, Shri BL Batra, Smt Vasudhara Mehrotra, and Smt Ankita Nadaan.
The organisers honoured each speaker with a memento and a traditional stole.
Then, Pandit Deepak Maharaj delivered a spellbinding Kathak performance. He received a standing ovation. He performed with Shri Pranshu Chaturlal on tabla, Shri Jayvardhan Dadhich, and Ustad Janab Warsi Khan on vocals.
Later, the stage welcomed more classical acts. Highlights included Kathak by students of Parth Mandal, Kuchipudi by Abdul Khalid, a Kathak trio by Priyanshi, Sneha & Sreeanjita, Bharatanatyam by Shreya Jyotish, and Kathak by Aman Pandey.
Musicians enhanced the performances with live accompaniment.
Shri Yogesh Gangani (tabla), Ustad Sami Ullah Khan (vocal), Shri Ashish Gangani (pakhawaj), Shri Dhiren Tiwari, Shri Sanjeet Gangani, Vidushi Anjana Singh (padhant), and Shri Junaid Khan (sarangi) delivered rich and vibrant soundscapes.
Finally, the programme ended with powerful Kathak recitals by Shri Channel Prasad, Ms Ashmita Aich, Ms Priyanka Kapil, Ms Amrapali Bhandari, and Shri Ravi Yadav.
Organisers honoured all participating artists on stage with certificates and shawls.
Dr Anu Sinha and Captain Shyam Kumar closed the event with a heartfelt vote of thanks. They thanked the performers, speakers, and audience for making the Guru Purnima celebration a tribute to India’s enduring guru-shishya tradition.
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