Sneak peek into the 4th Mahindra Kabira Festival

Mahindra Kabira Festival is back with its fourth edition. This year again, the festival is being held in Varanasi, the birthplace of legendary 15th-century mystic Kabir whose teachings serve as the guiding light for the festival. From November 22-24, the mesmerizing ghats of Varanasi will reverberate with musical harmony created by numerous acclaimed and gifted artistes.

At both sunrise and sunset, there would be musical performances that would celebrate the works of Kabir. The morning session will begin at Guleria Ghat every morning at 6:30 AM. Some of the key performers during the morning sessions at the Mahindra Kabira Festival this year include the noted sitar-player Neeraj Mishra, Hindustani classical vocalist Ujwal Nagar, flutist Rakesh Kumar, Indian classical violinist Sarada Prasan Das, renowned Kabir-panthi Shabnam Virmani and musician Swagath Sivakumar who will present “Yeh To Ghar Hai Prem Ka: Love In Times Of Hate”.

Kabir’s philosophy weaves itself completely into Ujwal Nagar’s current work for the festival. “Sant Kabir’s philosophy revolves around human values and doesn’t confine itself to one particular religion. Kabir’s verses still feel contemporary as they are relevant to all societies and all times. They talk about self-introspection, love, compassion and empathy, instead of looking outwards and indulging in fault-finding negativity,” explains Nagar. “There are compositions where Sant Kabir talks about the value of having a ‘Guru’, a teacher in life and there are verses where he discards religious exclusivism. I hope to take such verses and bhajans and present them in my own rendition style in the upcoming Festival,” further adds Nagar.

Guleria Ghat will also be the venue for the ‘Afternoon Literature Sessions’ that will feature the likes of the writer and academic Purushottam Agrawal and Mumbai-based group Jashn-E-Qalam. In other words, the festival is a cultural carnival that brings together literature, music, heritage walks, boat rides, food and whatnot. The specially-guided ‘Heritage Walks’ is curated by Ajay Pandey and Navneet Raman from Banaras Cultural Foundation. The underlying idea behind the walks is to make the attendants experience Kabir and understand the beauty of the landscape he dwelt in. This year the festival will also collaborate with an international organization called Unity Earth which is on a mission to accelerate the realization of unity and peace on earth. As part of a special collaboration, musicians Kirstin Hoffmann, Antoinette Rootsdawtah, and Pato Banton will be presenting a special set this year.

The evening music sessions will take place at Shivala Ghat every evening from 6:30 PM onwards. The major performers during the evening sessions at the festival include Pt. Ajay Shankar Prasanna, Ustad Kamal Sabri, Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe and Mooralala Marwada. Sabri sees the festival’s propagation of Kabir’s teachings as a guiding light. “It is very important to attend this festival as it reminds us about how to live life the right way,” opines Sabri. Prasanna too feels that Kabir’s teachings are highly relevant in today’s times owing to the rise of materialism, violence, untruth, and discontent. “Our way of life defines our personality, our mentalities as human beings and ultimately it determines our conduct. Kabir's teachings encompass all walks of life and give us the right path that leads to self-realisation and self-fulfilment,” explains Prasanna.

The festival’s opening reception presents a wonderful opportunity for festival attendants to meet the artistes and get an introduction to what lies in store for them. This year there will be a performance by Rahul and Rohit Mishra at the reception. Varanasi is home to the Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan and the Annapurna Temples apart from a wide array of bazaars. The visitors can visit these places on the sidelines of the festival. For those who wish to attend the Ganga Aarti, they can do so at 5:30 PM in the evening at Assi Ghat nearby.

In a short span, the festival has provided a great boost to the artists living in Varanasi. Also, the local businesses like the hotels, the tour guides, the weaver communities, the iconic food joints all have been greatly benefitted from the festival. The Mahindra Group and Teamwork Arts as promoters and producers of the festival have shown great commitment to promoting cultural outreach through the Mahindra Kabira Festival. The fact that the festival has received a ‘Platinum Level Green Event Certification’ from the University of Yale in previous years is a testament to its continued sustainability.