10 months ago
Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav 2025: New Voices and Instruments
The Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav is a big music festival happening in Pune, India, from December 10 to 14, 2025.
This year, the festival is special because more than half of the musicians performing are new and will be performing for the first time.
The festival will feature many different types of classical music, including vocal and instrumental performances.
There will be musicians from different music traditions, called gharanas, and they will play different types of songs called ragas.
Some well-known musicians will also perform, like Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar and Pandit Venkatesh Kumar.
The festival will end with a special tribute called Arghya, performed by musicians from the Kirana gharana.
The 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav will be held from December 10 to 14, 2025, in Pune’s Mukundnagar.
Over half of the participating artists are performing at the event for the first time.
The festival will feature a diverse range of gharanas, instruments, and ragas.
Notable performers include Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Pandit Shubhendra Rao, Saskia Rao-De-Haas, and Pandit Venkatesh Kumar.
The festival will conclude with a traditional Arghya tribute by Kirana gharana vocalists.
- Who
- Organized by Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, featuring emerging and established artists from various gharanas.
- What
- A five-day classical music festival showcasing vocal and instrumental performances.
- Where
- Maharashtriya Mandal Sports Complex in Pune’s Mukundnagar.
- When
- December 10 to 14, 2025.
- Why
- To provide a platform for both new and established artists to showcase their talent in classical music.
Key facts
- Event Name
- Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav 2025
- Dates
- December 10 to 14, 2025
- Location
- Maharashtriya Mandal Sports Complex, Pune’s Mukundnagar
- Organizer
- Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal
- New Performers
- Over half of the participants are first-time performers
- Gharanas Featured
- Kirana, Jaipur-Atrauli, Gwalior, Banaras, Bhendi Bazaar, Maihar, Imdadkhani
- Ragas Featured
- Yaman, Marwa, Puriya, Malkauns, Bageshree, Adana, and more
- Notable Performers
- Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Pandit Shubhendra Rao, Saskia Rao-De-Haas, Pandit Krishnamohan Bhatt, Vidushi Padma Deshpande, Pandit Venkatesh Kumar, and more
Quotes
Rajnish and Ritesh Mishra
A duo of vocalists known as Mishra Bandhu.
“The audience at Sawai Gandharva is very receptive; even with thousands of people, there is a pin-drop silence. Festivals like these uplift artists and help preserve our cultural heritage. The last time, we received a standing ovation. Sawai truly respects artists, and we are excited to perform again”
indianexpress.com
“Before every concert, we sit in the greenroom and decide what to present. On stage, we try to connect with the audience through the notes and create harmony. For us, Indian classical music is not about proving anything, it’s about spreading love and peace”
indianexpress.com
Performance Note
A note describing the performance of the Mishra brothers.
“Duet singing in Indian classical music is considered a very difficult art as it requires not only individual competence but a great amount of self-control to improvise and harmonise at the same time. Rajnish-Ritesh Mishra have put in every thing to achieve such excellence…”
indianexpress.com
