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rudraveena sangam

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Rudra Veena Sangam

A one of a kind gathering for reviving the majesty

of an ancient Indian instrument - the Rudra Veena  

The magnificient Rudra Veena belonging to classical Indian music tradition is now a World Heritage Instrument protected and promoted by UNESCO. However, the ancient plucked string instrument has remained confined to limited circles and is rarely experienced in popular culture. With an earnest desire that it’s musical ecstasy reaches the youth, Anam Prem has organised Rudra Veena Sangam. Saints and seers who have spent their lifetimes practising and upholding the divine art form of the Rudra Veena will create its musical experiences.


Kindly appreciate, there are no fees or charges for attending this
program, however registration is mandatory. Do spread the word!

The Instrument, Our Heritage 

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Rudra Veena is known as the king of instruments. All strings instruments are shaped after it. According to Hindu Mythology, Shiva is said to have created this instrument. It was believed to be used for aradhana(devotion) alone by the Dev Loka. Due to its ability to produce deeper sounds, it has been used in spiritual worship. Its extent is way beyond the usual music arena. It has spirituality embedded in itself and used to be the instrument of the kings and emperors in times of war. When Rudra Veena was played, the enemies on the battlefield would become effete. We are attempting a revival of this magnificent instrument and its qualities of subtlety and pure music

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The Saints and Seers of Rudra Veena 

Ustad Bahauddin Dagar 
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Mohi Bahauddin is an exponent of the Rudra Veena. He practises this instrument in the genre ‘Dhrupad’, which is the the oldest living vocal tradition of India and traces its roots to the Sama Veda. Born into the illustrious Dagar family of Dhrupad musicians in 1970, he represents the 20th generation of the Dagar music lineage. He has received his Rudra Veena training from his father Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar; a legendary Rudra Veena maestro and his uncle, Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar; a renowned Indian classical vocalist from whom he later also learnt vocal music.In taking the Dhrupad tradition to future generations, Ustad Bahauddin teaches both vocal and instrumental forms of music to students at Dhrupad; a Guru-Shishya Parampara styled Gurukul established by his father in 1982, near Panvel. He firmly believes that teaching is integral to his own learning and growth as a musician.

Vidushi Jyoti Hegde 
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Vidushi Jyoti Hegde from Karnataka, is an accomplished Rudra Veena exponent of the Khandarbani school of Dhrupad. Beginning with Guru Pt. Bindumadhav Pathak, and then Guru Pt. Indudhar Nirode, and later under tutelage of Ustad Asad Ali Khan she rose to new heights and found a greater intensity of devotion to the Rudra Veena as a means to Nada Yoga. It is based on the ancient Sanskrit premise that all creation consists of nada, or sound vibrations. The Rudra Veena was an instrument surrounded by much superstition and folklore about the many difficulties faced by its practitioners and absolutely no woman was ever allowed in those patriarchal times to even touch it, let alone play it. She is the only woman Rudra Veena exponent of the present times, who defied gender hierarchy, superstition, sexism to shoulder and master this magnificent instrument.

Pandit Suvir Misra 
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Pt. Suvir Misra is one of the few distinguished left hand artists who has mastered the three traditional veenas of Indian classical music – Rudra Veena, Saraswati Veena and the Surbahar. He performs on the three Veenas in the ‘Gayaki Ang’ (vocal style) in which all the fluidity and subtle nuances of the human voice are integrated with the traditional Beenkari. Pt. Suvir Misra is a disciple of Dhrupad legend Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and received Rudra Veena training from him and his disciple Pt. Nirmalya Dey. Pt. Suvir Misra not only plays the magnificient Rudra Veena but also makes it. He is also the inventor of Misr Veena. His efforts have brought back Carnatic Saraswati Veena back into Hindustani Classical mainstream music platforms. He is also trying to bring extinct Veena like Jantari, Kinnari, etc back to life by conducting thorough research into it

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Ustad Zahid Khan Faridi Desai 

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Ustad Zahid Khan Faridi Desai is the son and disciple of Ustad Shamsuddin Faridi Desai, a revered exponent of Rudra Veena and a Sufi Beenkar. He belongs to the Indore Binkar family of Rudra Veena players and is the last successor and master of the Gauharbani Gharana style of Khayal and Dhrupad on the Rudra Veena. The Indore Family tradition of music traces its origin to the system of Bin playing of Miya Ustad Bande Ali Khan, a master of masters of the art of Rudra Veena playing. The
characteristic of the Gauharbani Gharana and the personal style of Ustad Shamsuddin Faridi Desai are very long meends(pulling of the string). Ustad Shamsuddin Faridi Desai, a musical legacy is perpetuated by his son, Zahid Khan Faridi Desai.

Schedule of the program

Inaugration by Col. Aniruddha Ghole

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Rudra Veena upavinan Ustad Mohi Bahauddin Dagar

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Rudra Veena upavinan Pandita Jyoti Hegde

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Lunch

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Rudra Veena upavinan Pandit Suvir Misra

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Rudra Veena upavinan Ustad Zahid Khan Faridi Desai

09.00 hrs

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09.30 - 11.00

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11.30 - 01.00

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01.00 - 02.00

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02.30 - 04.00

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04.30 - 06.00

Join us for this one of a kind initiative.

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