Barkha Ritu 25th Anniversary: Bengaluru to Host Monsoon Raga Showcase on Independence Day
Banyan Tree marks a quarter-century of monsoon-themed classical performances with a multi-city tour featuring elite vocalists and instrumentalists. The Bengaluru event functions as a charity fundraiser to protect vanishing Indian folk traditions and instruments.
Key takeaways
- Banyan Tree marks 25 years of the Barkha Ritu festival with a special performance at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on August 15.
- The concert features rare monsoon ragas like Chaya Malhar and Dhuliya Malhar performed by leading Hindustani and Carnatic artists.
- Ticket proceeds fund the Tender Roots Academy, which provides scholarships for students of endangered instruments like the kamaicha.
- The festival is expanding beyond major metros to include performances in Tier-II cities like Belgaum and Hubballi.
A Quarter-Century of Seasonal Melodies
Banyan Tree celebrates the 25th year of Barkha Ritu, its signature monsoon music festival, with a scheduled performance in Bengaluru on August 15. The event coincides with Independence Day and continues a tradition established by co-founders Nandini Mahesh and Mahesh Babu to spotlight seasonal ragas that typically remain unheard throughout the rest of the year. While the festival originated in Mumbai, it has since expanded to major hubs and is now reaching Tier-II cities including Hubballi and Belgaum.
The Program and Artistic Collaboration
The Bengaluru edition at Chowdiah Memorial Hall features flautist S Shashank alongside vocalists Ashwini Bhide and Sanjeev Abhyankar. The performance aims to bridge the gap between Hindustani and Carnatic traditions through jugalbandis. While monsoon ragas like 'Miyan ki Malhar' and 'Megh' are more common in Hindustani music, the festival encourages South Indian classical musicians to interpret rain-themed compositions such as 'Amrutvarshini'. The program highlights rare ragas including 'Chaya Malhar', 'Meerabai Malhar', and 'Dhuliya Malhar', leveraging vocal lyrics to describe the shifting flora and fauna of the season.
Key Facts
- The festival began 25 years ago in Mumbai before expanding across India.
- Performers for this edition include S Shashank, Sanjeev Abhyankar, and Ashwini Bhide Deshpande.
- Featured ragas include Chaya Malhar, Meerabai Malhar, Dhuliya Malhar, Miyan ki Malhar, and Megh.
- The event serves as a fundraiser for the Tender Roots Academy of Performing Arts.
- Bengaluru performance details: Chowdiah Memorial Hall, August 15, 6:30 pm, tickets starting at ₹750.
Preserving Cultural Legacies
Proceeds from the concert support the Tender Roots Academy of Performing Arts, an initiative dedicated to ensuring the survival of dying art forms. The academy focuses on early cultural exposure for school-age children, including those with learning disabilities. A major component of this work involves the kamaicha project, which provides stipends to students learning the rare Rajasthani stringed instrument. By offering scholarships and performance opportunities at Banyan Tree festivals, the organization incentivizes the study of traditional lyrical compilations and instrumental mastery that might otherwise be lost to time.
Source: The Hindu – Entertainment
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