Details Of The Festival

Kartik Cultural Festival Nahar Singh Mahal

Cultural programme 2nd Nov., 1996 A scene from a musical play on Raja Nahar Singh's life will be followed by folk dances from different States. Award- winning folk dance companies from throughout India will open the Kartik Cultural Festival, in an evening filled with lively performances, traditional entertainment, and a gala royal dinner at Suraj Kund.

Sarod recital by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Sahib 3rd Nov. Amjad Ali Khan is the sixth generation of a family of traditional musicians who have developed and refined the repertoire of the classical stringed sarod. His technical virtuosity, unparalleled lyricism, and brilliant improvisations have won him devoted followings in Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Africa, as well as in India. He is the acknowledged sarod maestro of his generation, and one of India's most famous classical musicians.

Quawalli by Ustad Aslam Haji Ali Sabri 4th Nov. "Quawalli" vocal music, often called the music of poets and philosophers, originated in the 13th century, amongst followers of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Garib Nawaz. Janab Aslam Haji Ali Sabri is a devoted Haji who has paid obeisance at both Mecca and Medina, and is one of India’s most famous vocalists of the popular form of "Quawalli."

Vocal Recital by Begum Parween Sultana 5th Nov., 1996 The "Khayal" tradition came into full flower in the 16th century, and has remained the most popular form of classical Hindustani vocal music. Begum Parveen Sultana’s extraordinarily pure voice handles the most complicated ragas with a sweetness, confidence, and ease of range that has endeared her to audiences throughout India, as well as in many of the major concert halls of the world.

19th Century Fashion Pageant Couture of the Royal Courts 6th Nov. A fashion show organised by the International Institute of Fashion Technology and choreographed by Anoop Bannerjee will bring the palace of Nahar Singh alive with the ambience of the mid-19th century, with clothing that will re-create all the splendor, elegance, and pageantry of a traditional royal court.

Kathak by Varonique Azan 7th Nov. The Festival closes with a classical Kathak dance performance by the renowned, French-born dancer Veronique’s Azam. With a dazzling style that has been likened to a polished diamond, Veronique's dramatic footwork, disciplined rhythms, and fluid movement, have made her one of the leading exponents of the Kathak form.

Every day of the Festival, a lively mela (Fair) will fill the palace, with royal bazaars, craft demonstrations, food stalls, acrobats, elephants, entertainers, and exhibitions, all re-creating the ambience of a 19th century royal court.