Sopan Festival Day 2 takes centre stage with tabla, contemporary and kathak performance

New Delhi, January 19, 2024: Day 2 of the Sopan Festival's cultural celebration continued after a successful opening day, with a wide range of classical vocal, instrumental, and dance acts engaging the audience.

The second day of the Sopan Festival featured a remarkable performance by Suraj. He delivered a captivating vocal performance that enchanted the audience. His rendition, marked by soulful melodies, left the listeners spellbound.

This was followed by Sani Niyazi's fascinating Tabla performance. Abhishek Khichi's Kathak ensemble rounded off the exciting evening. Abhishek's performance, starting with a Surdas pada depicting Lord Krishna in Rupak Taal, showcased the depth of Kathak through intricate footwork and expressive storytelling. The performance concluded with a Drut laya teentaal, featuring paran, tukda, tihai, and a captivating jugalbandi.

Akshar Tekchandani graced the stage with another enchanting Kathak ensemble, beginning with a Panchbhoot Shlok from the Rigveda. Tekchandani’s skillfully portrayed the technical aspects of Kathak in Teen Taal and brought to life the Kevat Prasang from the Ramayana in Abhinaya Paksh. The audience was mesmerised by the performance, which was accompanied by talented musicians such as Nasir Khan ji on the sarangi, Atul Devesh ji on vocals, Nishit Gangani on the tabla, and Gaurav Shridhar on the padhant.

With Govind Mahato's Chhau performance, the evening reached a crescendo that gave the event a distinct taste. The audience was greatly impressed by Mahato's skill in Chhau dance, a traditional style that combines narrative and martial arts.

At the festival, attendees are also delighted with an exquisite art collection presented by the recipients of scholarships from Sahitya Kala Parishad. This art collection will continue till the last day of the festival.

As the curtains fell on Day 2, the Sopan festival continues to generate excitement as it promises more engaging performances in the near future that will highlight the variety and depth of India's cultural legacy.