TO MARK THE 150th anniversary of 1857 freedom struggle, South Central cultural centre, Tatya Tope Nagar Nagrik Mandal, Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh and Vaidarbhiya Hari-kirtan Organisation are all set to organise a National Kirtan Festival for the year 2007. The festival, featuring India’s most prominent Nationalist Kirtankars, will be held in Nagpur from October 28 to November 3, 2007. The main subject of the fest would be the biographies of the freedom fighters of India.
Right from the first day, the festival is power packed with celebrity appearances and great intellectual lectures from renowned orators. All Kirtankars participating in festival are nationalist Kirtankars, as they sing about the nation, freedom struggle, politics in India, and about strengthening the nation’s cultural and intellectual mindscape, instead of on religious topics, like in common Kirtans.
On October 28, well-known music director, singer Pt Hridaynath Mangeshkar (from the Mangeshkar lineage) will inaugurate the festival. The first day is dedicated to Jhansi’s Rani Laxmi Bai. Professor NC Apamarjane from Pune will explain about the life and struggles of Rani Laxmi Bai during 1857 freedom struggle.
On October 29, well known Marathi stage artist Prabhakar Panshikar will light the traditional lamps, while Dr Shrikrishna Sinnarkar from Nasik, Maharashtra will deliver a Kirtan on Tatya Tope.
On October 30, Yogeshwar Upasani from Amalner, Maharashtra will explain about Vasudeo Balwant Phadke. Stage artist Manoj Joshi will lighten the inauguration lamps.
On October 31, Dattadas Ghagh from Nrisinhawadi, Maharashtra, would explain about Chafekar brothers’ role in 1857 freedom struggle.
On the first of November, Charudatta Aphale from Pune will speak on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, while Nitish Bharadwaj will light the traditional lamps.
The last two Kirtans will be delivered by Hariharbuwa Natu and Rashtiya Kirtan Ratna Prof Dr Dilip Dabir on Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose respectively.
Former chief minister of Maharashtra, Manohar Joshi will be the chief guest of the concluding ceremony on the third of November.
