Devotional music fetes sages of yore

The Capital celebrated the auspicious occasion of Aashaadi Ekadashi with a devotional music concert ‘Bolava Vitthal’ organised for the first time by Pancham Nishad, recently.

The event, organised in association with the Cultural Department, Government of Maharashtra, saw singers like, Rahul Deshpande, Devaki Pandit and Jayateerth Mevundi enthral the audience with their mellifluous renditions of abhangs at this unique event at the Siri Fort Auditorium.

The event was graced by Delhi’s prominent artistes and music enthusiasts like Pt Sajan Mishra, Abhay Rustam Sapori, artiste Moinuddin Ghazali, Swaransh Mishra and Shashi Vyas, to name
a few.

Bolava Vitthal is an unique concert of devotional songs dedicated to Lord Vitthala (Lord Vishnu) on the eve of Aashaadi Ekadashi. From the 12th to 19th century, many great saints like Sant Dyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Gora Kumbhar, Sant Namdeo and Sant Janabai, to name but a few, penned many devotional songs devoted to Lord Vitthal.

Legendary vocalist Bharat Ratna, late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was the pioneer in presenting and popularising the genre of Santawaani (devotional songs).

Today after a gap of three decades, Delhi music lovers once again got  the opportunity to listen to this genre of Indian devotional music which originated from the state of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Vocalist Devaki Pandit presented soulful songs like Abir gulal, Nato tumra gyaneswara, Ma pantrile sukh, etc and Rahul Deshpande presented Tukiram je abhangs, Lakshmi vallabha, kanda raja pandharicha, Me tava baisalo.

Another great artiste` Jayateerth Mevundi presented songs likeVitthal prem bandho, Amar umar makar, Rajas sukumar, Bharambha lakshmi bharambha, etc.

Speaking to Metrolife about the event, Mevundi, said, “There were a lot of devotees who came for the concert and we were successful in reaching out to them and touching their hearts with our devotional songs.”

Pleased with the response of the Delhi audience, he said, “Their response was great and we should hold this concert every year to promote the genre of Indian devotional music among the masses.”

For the past few years Bolava Vitthal has received tremendous response from music lovers across India. During these years, eminent musicians like Ganasaraswati Kishori Amonkar, Ajit Kumar Kadkade, Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande and Shaunak Abhisheki have performed on various occasions.

“Bolava Vitthal concerts have created their niche amongst the audience in the past few years and its pan-India reach symbolises the popularity of devotional song genre, ” said Shashi Vyas
after the event.