The Tansen Sangeet Samaroh will commence with ‘Gamak’, a semi-classical music programme and end with a pure classical music concert at Gwalior Fort. The musical extravaganza will begin on 21 December and continue till 26 December.

The Tansen Music Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in India. Artistes and music lovers from all over the world gather here to pay tribute to the musical maestro, Tansen, one of the nine gems in the court of Emperor Akbar and the pillar of India classical music.

Renowned classical musician Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar will be honoured with National Tansen Samman for 2017 by the Madhya Pradesh government during the festival this year.

Two new sessions have been added to the music event this year, ‘Gamak’ to  be organised at Hazira Chowk in Gwalior city and the other to be held on the podium of erstwhile Raja Man Singh’s court in Gwalior Fort where classical music performances used to be delivered by Tansen. Tansen was the court musician of Raja Man Singh Tomar, founder of ‘Dhrupad’, before he joined the court of Akbar.

In a deviation from the purely classical nature of the festival, ‘Gamak’ has been added to attract more people to the musical event. Anup Jalota will deliver a performance, said state minister and MLA of the Hazira area, Jaibhan Singh Pabaiya.

The festival is organised by Ustad Alauddin Khan Kala Evam Sangeet Academy and the Department of Culture of  Madhya Pradesh government.

Foreign artistes have been invited this year too to deliver vocal and instrumental performances. There will be nine oncerts and seven of them will be held at Tansen Samadhi in the vicinity of the tomb of Gaus Mohammad. The eighth session will be organised on the banks of Jhilmil river in Behat village, the birthplace of Tansen, 40 km from Gwalior. The last session will be at Gujari Mahal in Gwalior Fort.

“It is a world renowned classical music festival and is the pride of Gwalior residents. They have the opportunity to learn and listen to classical music by world famous artistes,” said BM Sharma, Divisional Commissioner of Gwalior.

The inaugural ceremony is  an example of religious harmony as traditional Harikatha and Meelad are performed.

“It was a prestigious programme earlier but standards have fallen now. The Governor and  Chief Minister used to be come for inaugural and closing ceremonies but now they are not seen,” said Dr Keshav Pandey, a local music lover and senior journalist.