### Melodies of Joshi's Flute and Rhythms of Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar's Dance Enthrall Audience

Udaipur,  The two-day 'Malhar' festival, organized by the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) Udaipur at Darpan Auditorium, concluded on Sunday with mesmerizing performances by flute maestro Shri Chetan Joshi and the renowned Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar and her troupe.

WZCC Director Furkan Khan shared that the annual 'Malhar' festival, celebrated to express the joy of the monsoon season, commenced its final day with a captivating flute performance by Pandit Chetan Joshi at Shilpgram's Darpan Auditorium.

The highlight of the evening was the performance by Pandit Chetan Joshi, an internationally acclaimed flutist and recipient of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, bestowed by the President of India. Before beginning his performance, Pandit Joshi engaged with the audience, mentioning that the ongoing heavy rains in Udaipur inspired his choice of the monsoon raga, Madhu Malhar.

He began his recital with an alap, jod, and jhala in Raga Madhu Malhar, including a unique experiment with the Ati Mandr Saptak (lower octave), which has been the subject of several research papers. Following a brief alap, he played a composition in vilambit roopak taal, showcasing an extraordinary blend of rhythmic patterns. Before performing the bandish "Sakal Ghan Chhayo" in medium tempo, Pandit Joshi sang it for the audience.

Upon the audience's request, Pandit Joshi concluded his unforgettable performance with a rendition of a Kajri from Banaras. His performance, accompanied by senior tabla artist Pandit Ashish Sengupta from Delhi, who displayed exceptional skill on the tabla, left the audience spellbound. Harija Pandey provided tanpura accompaniment, enhancing the overall experience. The resonance of Pandit Joshi's flute performance is sure to linger in the minds of the listeners for a long time.

Following the flute recital, Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar and her troupe presented a combined performance of Kathak, Odissi, and Chhau dances under the theme of 'Nrityadhara.' The primary aim of this presentation was to promote India's rich cultural heritage. The performance began with a homage to the motherland, "Jai Jai Janani Bhoodevi, Tujhko Baar-Baar Pranam...", executed through various dance styles. After the invocation, a pure dance piece was performed in each style, culminating in a dance set to the lyrical music composed by Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, celebrating his centenary. This grand finale brought together different dance forms to symbolize national unity through dance.

The performance featured artists Vinod Kevin Bachan, Urjaswi Datta, Swati Sharma, Lavanya Chugh, Muskan, Stuti Pandey, Aarushi Lal, Arjun Kohil, Himesh Parcha, Pankaj Singh, Shriram Sankhla, and Vidha Lal. The lighting design was handled by Sandeep Dutta.

The event concluded with a felicitation of all the artists. The program was anchored by Siddhant Bhatnagar, with the presence of WZCC officials and staff. The 'Malhar' festival was made memorable by the outstanding performances of these renowned classical musicians and dancers.