IGNCA’s Foundation Day Concludes with Folk Music
· IGNCA Celebrates 38th Foundation Day with Music, Discourse, and Cultural Performances
20th March, New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) marked its 38th Foundation Day with a vibrant three-day celebration from 17 to 19 March, weaving together scholarship, music, and dance in a tribute to India’s rich artistic traditions. The event reaffirmed IGNCA’s unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
The celebrations culminated in a mesmerising evening featuring Padma Shri Begum Batool, the renowned Bhajan, Maand, and Phag singer from Rajasthan, whose evocative renditions immersed audiences in the heart of India’s folk traditions. This was followed by spirited performances of Veer Nritya and other folk dances from Uttarakhand, reflecting the resilience and vibrancy of India’s oral and performance traditions.
The event was graced by Padma Bhushan Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President of IGNCA, as the Chief Guest, alongside eminent cultural figures, including Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Padma Shri Dr. Daya Prakash Sinha, Padma Shri Dr. Bharat Gupt, and Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA. Their presence affirmed the institution’s role in fostering dialogue between classical and folk traditions.
The celebrations opened with a Symposium on Haveli Sangeet, where the 500-year-old tradition of Pushtimargiya Kirtan unfolded through discourse and live demonstrations. This sacred musical form, deeply rooted in temple traditions, was presented as more than just an art-it was a spiritual offering, structured around intricate raga-taal cycles. The discussion illuminated how ‘Haveli Sangeet’ has influenced classical genres like Dhrupad, Dhamar, and Khayal, while reinforcing the significance of preserving it in its authentic essence.
As the symposium delved into history, the evening performances on 18 and 19 March transformed the IGNCA into a stage where tradition met contemporary expression. The dynamic choreography of ‘Aadi Anant’ merged the disciplined power of Kalaripayattu and Chhau, offering a striking visual narrative of movement and mythology. As the night deepened, Ronkini Gupta’s Hindustani classical recital unfolded, weaving centuries-old ragas into a melodic expression of enduring musical devotion.
The three-day celebration was more than a tribute to the past; it was a reflection of IGNCA’s enduring role in sustaining India’s cultural pulse. Every note sung, every step performed, and every thought exchanged echoed the vibrancy of tradition as a lived experience. Seamlessly weaving scholarship with performance, the event offered an immersive journey into heritage as an evolving force. Through its confluence of discourse, music, and dance, IGNCA reaffirmed its place as a custodian of India’s cultural continuum.
