The Vasantotsav is an annual

Indian Classical music Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...

, semi classical, folk and light music festival held in

Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...

. The festival is organized by Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Pratisthan, Pune, in the memory of the late Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande by inviting respected artists to perform at this event. Nana Patekar is the pillar supporting this entire event.

History

The festival was started in the year 1985 on a small scale in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

with the support of Nana Patekar. The festival played a key role in the development of Indian music. Later, the festival was conducted in Pune. Vasantotsav celebrated 10th year in 2016.

Growth

Many artists have performed in the festival, such as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad

Zakir Hussain Zakir Hussain ( ur, , link=no) is the name of: * Zakir Husain (politician), an Indian politician and former president of India * Zakir Hussain (actor), Bollywood actor * Zakir Hussain (field hockey) (1934–2019), Pakistani field hockey player * ...

Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan (born 3 March 1967) is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that writes music for Indian films. Personal life and early career Shankar Mahadevan was born in Chembur, Mumbai into a Tami ...

, Abida Parveen,

Mukul Shivputra Pandit Mukul Shivputra (born 25 March 1956) (previously known as Mukul Komkalimath) is a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Gwalior Gharana and the son and foremost disciple of Pt. Kumar Gandharva. Early life and training Born in Bhopal to ...

Niladri Kumar Pandit Niladri Kumar is an Indian sitar player and music composer. Early life He was born to sitar player Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar. He started learning sitar under his father at the age of four. Kumar gave his first public per ...

Aman Ali Khan Ustad Aman Ali Khan ‘Amar’ (1888–1953) was an Indian classical vocalist and composer from the Bhendibazaar Gharana The Bhendibazaar gharana is one of the vocal gharanas of Indian classical music, which originated in Bhendi Bazaar area of ...

Ayaan Ali Khan Ayaan Ali Bangash ( hi, अयान अली बंगश; IAST: ) (born 5 September 1979) is an Indian classical musician who plays the ''sarod''. Khan is the son of Amjad Ali Khan and often performs with his older brother Amaan Ali Banga ...

, Swapan Choudary, Roop Kumar Rathod, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad

Shahid Parvez Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (commonly known as Shahid Parvez, born 14 October 1954) is an Indian classical sitar maestro from the Imdadkhani gharana. He represents the seventh generation of the Etawah Gharana as its primary exponent. He is praise ...

, Hariharan,

Vikku Vinayakram Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram (born 11 August 1942), also known as Vikku Vinayakram, is an Indian percussionist. He is also known as the God of ''ghatam''. He plays Carnatic music with the ''ghatam'', an earthen pot, and is credited with popula ...

Kaushiki Chakrabarty Kaushiki Chakraborty (born 24 October 1980) is an Indian Hindustani classical music, classical vocalist and a composer She attended ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Sangeet Research Academy, and was one of the exponents of Patiala gharana. Her re ...

, Shiva Mani,

Shantanu Moitra Shantanu Moitra (born 22 January 1968) is an Indian score composer, musician and pianist who has composed songs for the Hindi film industry, and is most known for his scores in the films '' Parineeta'' (2005), ''Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi'' (200 ...

, Swanand Kirkire, Pt. Rajan Mishra, Pt. Sajan Mishra,

Suresh Wadkar Suresh Ishwar Wadkar (born 7 August 1955) is an Indian playback singer. He performs in both Hindi and Marathi films. He has sung songs in some Bhojpuri films, Odia albums and bhajans and in Konkani films. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Aka ...

, Daler Mehendi, Teejan Bai and Rahul Deshpande. The newest artists who performed in 2016 include the Wadali Brothers,

Mahesh Kale Mahesh Kale ( Marathi: महेश काळे; born 12 January 1976) is an Indian Classical vocalist renowned for his specialization in Indian Classical ( Hindustani), Semi-Classical, Devotional music including Natya Sangeet. Mahesh Kale ...

and George Brooks, among others. The 2016 Vasantotsav was the 10th year of the event. This year, the event was kept free for the 14000 viewers. The event also consists of 100th show of Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (play). The play ( Sangeet Natak)was done by Opera style with complete background of set of Katyar on the big stage. The play run for more than 3 hours with the standing ovation of viewers. As per the plan, from the year 2016, Vasantotsav would be conducted all over Maharashtra so that people from other cities would also participate in the event. This would be done by

Nasik Nashik (, Marathi: aːʃik, also called as Nasik ) is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of river Godavari, Nashik is the third largest city in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune. Nashik ...

and

Nagpur Nagpur (pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, aːɡpuːɾ is the third largest city and the winter capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the 13th largest city in India by population and according to an Oxford's Economics report, Nag ...

. During Vasantotsav, the viewers donated money which was further given to NAM Foundation of Nana Patekar and

Makarand Anaspure Makarand Madhukar Anaspure (Marathi pronunciation: əkəɾən̪d̪ ənaːspuɾe born 22 July 1969) is an Indian actor, director and producer. He has primarily appeared in Marathi films and theater. Career Anaspure came to fame after having ...

who are closely working and supporting farmers of Maharashtra.

Annual awards

The ‘Vasantrao Deshpande Smruti Sanman’ and ‘Vasantrao Deshpande budding artist’ awards are presented to three artists in the categories of senior guru, music researcher, and talented young musician.Vasantotsav will start from 15 January
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2016 Vasantotsav, Pune

Following artists performed in 2016 Vasantotsav held in Pune. *

Satish Vyas Satish Vyas (born November 16, 1952) is an Indian santoor player. He is the son of the Indian classical singer C. R. Vyas. From 1978 he studied santoor with Shivkumar Sharma. He lives in Chembur. Performances Pandit Satish Vyas has performe ...

: Instrumental (Santoor) - Classical. *

: Vocal - Classical * Wadali Brothers : Vocal - Sufi * Meera Prasad: Instrumental (Sitar) - Classical * Prahlad Tipaniya: Vocal - Folk *

Kumar Bose Pandit Kumar Bose ( Bangla পন্ডিত কুমার বোস), born 4 April 1953, is an Indian tabla musician and composer of Indian classical music. Family Bose was born in Kolkata in a musical family. His father, Biswanath Bose, ...

: Instrumental (Tabla) - Classical * George Brooks and Rahul Deshpande : Fusion - Saxophone and Vocal 2016 Vasantotsav, Nasik is planned on 19th Feb.

References

{{Indian Music Hindustani classical music festivals Music festivals established in 1985 1985 establishments in Maharashtra

History

Growth

Annual awards

2016 Vasantotsav, Pune

See also

References