Three-hour concert for leaders at dinner hosted by President

Recorded by people from all walks of life, the song was telecast for the first time on Independence Day in 1988, after the Prime Minister's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Droupadi Murmu, President Droupadi Murmu, G20, G20 meet, G20 meeting, G20 Summit, G20 countries, India news, Indian express, Indian express India news, Indian express India

Rashtrapati Bhavan illuminated in the colours of the national flag on the eve of the G20 summit. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

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At the banquet for G20 leaders hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Bharat Mandapam on September 9, the spirit of consensus will be celebrated through musical notes, with the three-hour performance by a curated ensemble of 78 instrumentalists set to conclude with Bhimsen Joshi’s Mile Sur Mera Tumhara.

Recorded by people from all walks of life, the song was telecast for the first time on Independence Day in 1988, after the Prime Minister’s speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

As heads of state work on the final draft of the joint communiqué after wrapping up the day’s deliberations, unity will once again be the theme as the ensemble will play the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — song. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is the theme of the G20 Summit.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan. Amit Mehra

According to Ministry of Culture officials, the performance — Bharat Vadya Darshanam (Musical Journey of India) — will be a first-of-its-kind fusion of various musical styles showcasing the country’s cultural depth. It is being organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

The officials said that as many as 78 instrumentalists from all over the country will be part of the ensemble, including 11 children, 13 women and seven differently abled artists. The instruments will range from Hindustani to Carnatic and folk.

Sandhya Purecha, SNA Chairman, said the programme will begin with compositions in Vilambit Laya (slow tempo), followed by Madhya Laya (medium fast tempo), and conclude with a few scores in Druta Laya (Fast tempo). The concluding section also has a devotional aspect with bhajans like Sriram Chandra Kripalu, Vaishnav Jan To, etc.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

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