Google Doodle celebrates Nowruz 2024
Google's lively Doodle marks Nowruz 2024, honoring the Persian New Year with artistry. Celebrating renewal and unity, the Doodle encapsulates the spirit of this cherished festival.
Google on Tuesday, honours veteran tabla player of Benaras gharana Lachhu Maharaj, on his 74th birthday.
The doodle is created by guest artist Sajid Shaikh. It is a sketch of Lacchu Maharaj playing tabla with his eyes closed with a serene expression on his face.
Lakshmi Narayan Singh, better known as Lachhu Maharaj, was born on October 16, 1944 into a family of musicians. Trained mainly by his father, Pandit Vasudev Singh, Lachhu Maharaj started performing at an early age. He was only eight, when the young prodigy was spotted by legendary Ahmed Jan Thirakwa Khan — one of the most influencial tabla players of all time.
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Lachhu Maharaj is regarded as one of the greatest gifts given to Tabla by Benaras gharana. Although he collaborated with a number of artistes, he is most remembered for his solo performances. Girija Devi, the late Benaras and Seniya gharana singed who performed with him a number of times, once remembered: “He would play for hours without repeating himself, new gats, tukras and parans, leaving his audiences awestruck.”
According to the Google post honouring him on his birthday, “Lachhu Maharaj was best known for his inherent sense of rhythm which was best exemplified in his solo performances.”
Not many people are aware that actor Govinda is Lachhu Maharaj’s nephew and had learnt music from him.
Lachhu Maharaj was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academi Award-the highest award for performing artists by National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.
Lachhu Maharaj passed away in July 2016 in Varanasi and is survived by his wife and a daughter.
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