Two-day classical music & dance fest kicks off in Patiala

Patiala, June 7, 2026: The opening day of the two-day cultural festival - 'Rhythmia', a fascinating fusion of classical music and dance, which went off to a colourful start at the Kalidasa Auditorium, here on Saturday, saw throngs of avid music lovers of the City Royale, heading straight to the venue to be a part of the magnificent show.
Organised by the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the mega musical soiree will bring live the who's who of the world ol Indian classical music under one umbrella.
The sultry Saturday evening turned musical as Surbahar exponent Dr. Ashwin Mahesh Dalvi took to the centrestage and left the audience spellbound with his scintillating performance, unfolding the profound nuances of Indian classical music through his soulful recital.
Steeped in the meditative ethos of the prominent Etawah Gharana, Dr Dalvi, manifested the austere grandeur and transcendental gravitas of the 'Dhrupat ang' on the Surbahar, adding brilliance to the recital through Aalap, Jod, and Jhala movements. The maestro was complemented with consummate sensitivity by Mrinal Upadhyay on the Pakhawaj and Pandurang Pawar on the Tabla, whose impeccable accompaniment enhanced the allure of his stellar performance.
Up next was the seminal dance-theatre opus 'The Game of Dice,' conceived and choreographed by Santosh Nair, which held the audience captive for more than an hour.
Based on the 'Dyuta Krida' episode of the epic Mahabharata, the work unfolded the subtle intricacies of Kathakali, Chhau, and a surfeit of other contemporary dances, bringing live the magic through dance, acting, music, and lighting patterns, dwelling on the unbridled power, frayed human egoes, dharma, morality, and human values, and so on, which were brought live with a razor-sharp precision, garnering a thunderous applause from the gungho audience.
On the concluding day (Sunday) the star performers of the evening will include the queen of Kathak Dr. Sameera Koser and Pandit Subhash Ghose, the living legends of their respective genres.
NZCC Director Mohd Furkan Khan on the occasion said, "The classical music and dance performances on day one captured the very essence of the India's composite cultural legacy, which needs be protected, preserved and promoted in the right earnest. I call upon one and all to come with their families and friends to be a part of this mega fare of music and dance on the concluding day."