SwaraMalhar enthrals Punekars with soulful monsoon raagas

The rain’s steady beat was a fitting prelude to an evening dedicated to monsoon and its music. Music lovers came together to experience the ninth edition of SwaraMalhar Mahotsav, held at the city's MES Auditorium, Bal Shikshan Mandir English Medium School. The three-day music festival kicked off on June 28, the second and third days will be held in two different venues, on July 7 and 13.

Day one’s first programme - Malhar Ke Rang - was a musical journey through the monsoon. As the lights in the auditorium dimmed, vocalists Rashmi Moghe, Suranjan Khandalkar, Shubham Khandalkar, Shruti Deshpande, and Sai Panchal, began their renditions of monsoon ragas. They were accompanied by Pandurang Pawar on tabla, and Ameya Bichu on harmonium. Curtains came down with the second musical session that had sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee from the Senia Meher Gharana, and Tanay Rege on tabla.