Three-day sangeetotsava begins in Hubli today

Three-day sangeetotsava begins in Hubli today
The Hindu - Staff Correspondent

Gangubai Hangal felicitates Rajyotsava award-winners

CELEBRATING MUSIC: Noted Hindustani classical singer Gangubai Hangal inaugurating the three-day music festival in Hubli on Thursday.

HUBLI: The three-day "Sangeetotsava" organised in memory of Sitar Ratna Rahimat Khan as part of his 52nd death anniversary began here on Thursday with a warm felicitation of three Rajyotsava Award-winners.

The programme, which was delayed by more than an hour at Dr. Mallikarjun Mansur Kalabhavan, was inaugurated by doyenne of Hindustani classical musician Gangubai Hangal, followed by a warm felicitation to Rajyotsava Award-winners Sadanand Kanavalli, T.V. Kabadi and Naganath Wodeyar, who belong to Hubli and Dharwad.

Referring to the contributions made by Pandit Rahimat Khan, who founded the Bharatiya Sangeet Vidyalaya in Dharwad with the objective of teaching music to all, she said it was because of Rahimat Khan that the Kannadigas became familiar with sitar.

Deputy Commissioner M.S. Srikar lauded the efforts of the samiti which has been organising the sangeetotsava for the past five decades.

Later in the night, Ruparani Das Borah, noted Kathak danseuse from New Delhi, set the tone for the three-day music festival with her splendid performance.

The festival has been organised by Sitar Ratna Samiti in association with Department of Kannada and Culture and Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi.