Dogged tales...

While Akshay Kumar was busy meeting and greeting junta at the Versova Festival, elsewhere his Entertainment lookalike Tiny the Golden Retriever was busy obliging fans with Kunju the Lhasa Apso and Snowy the Pom with Pawtraits, they could cherish for life.

The move of getting NGO Pawsitive Farm Sanctuary’s  four-legged Therapy Dogs  that were rescued or adopted and rehabilitated,  to come and meet those walking into the fest was that of ace pet photographer Bhavesh Karia, who believes that “clicking pets is not photography, but an artform.”

Says Bhavesh Karia, “pets are like little kids; forever doing something that you want to capture on your camera. But incredible pet photography is when you capture the essence of your furry friend through your pawtraits that look beyond the fur and into the soul of the pet. “I like to capture their honesty and their persona. I simply love the small smirks and poignant expressions – the animal's inner world.”

It is Bhavesh Karia’s pet boxer Bella who changed his world. “To me, Bella is not a dog, she is my life companion. So in my pawtraits, I try and capture what we miss most -- an expression, the moods, and the smile.” Though Bella was not present at the festival as she would follow Bhavesh Karia like Mary’s lamb, Tiny, Kunju and Snowy made sure that they not just posed for Bhavesh Karia but obliged all their young fans as well.

Mahima Chaudhary & Gracy Singh inaugurate artist Paramesh Paul's show, Glory of Varanasi.

Soul pilgrimage

The magical mysticism, the riveting riverbanks, the vast sea of humanity, Paramesh Paul infuses his works with a volatile energy that sees the City of Light shining bright, both physically and metaphorically. Worshippers taking dip in the river, the multitudes of small temples, the steps, the sadhus, the kamadul, the chhatris, the vatvruksha, the Nandi and the narrow streets teeming with life, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, of Benaras Gharana who have become synonymous with the embodiment of the spirit of Varanasi come to life on his canvas.

Painting, for Paramesh Paul, is a spiritual practice, an act of conscious, creative alignment with the Supreme. As one delves deeper into the paintings, one experiences a harmonious rhythm of life imbued with the feeling of transcendence, balance, and oneness with the whole of creation.

And this feeling was echoed by celebrities Mahima Chaudhary and Gracy Singh when they visited his exhibition at Nehru Centre Art Gallery to inaugurate the same. “I am in Benaras,” said Mahima Chaudhary. “The paintings transport you to the land of the Ganges. Paramesh Paul’s works are simply amazing.”

Added Gracy Singh, “the positivity in Paramesh Paul’s paintings is amazing. I have never been to Benaras but I feel I am there. His works have such an aura.”

Sarod Masters Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash perform on the eve of Makarsankranti at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya.

Sarod Masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash perform along with Pandit Vijay Ghate on the Tabla and Sridhar Parthasarathy on the Mridangam, on the eve of Makarsankranti at Hridayesh Festival at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya. Check out the adjacent pictures! 

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan-Ayaan perform to packed audiences at dawn at The Gateway of India

Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan-Ayaan perform to packed audiences at dawn at The Gateway of India

It was a unique spiritual dawn at The Gateway of India when Sarod masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash took to stage accompanied by Pandit Vijay Ghate on the Tabla and Giridhar Udapa on the Ghatam… From darkness to dawn, a jam-packed historical venue resonated with melody.

Soon, the sun rose to greet Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan as he greeted the audiences with Raag Jounpuri, humorously stating that he wasn’t having pedicure but actually filing his nails midway through performance as he needs to play the Sarod with his nails.

The grand finale and the third part of the concert was when the father-sons trio took to stage and mesmerized the audiences along with their esteemed accompanists, leaving audiences spellbound. Interestingly, this father-son performed together in Mumbai after five years!

The spiritual morn was courtesy, Pancham Nishad Creatives, in collaboration with the Cultural Department of Maharashtra and Mumbai Port Trust as was a non-ticketed event.

Says Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, “this early morning concert is a tribute to our ancestors who respected the time of the ragas.”

Adds Shashi Vyas said, "The idea of commencing the concert at dawn gives the audience a chance to listen to some soul-stirring morning melodies that are best appreciated only at this time."

JOSH Foundation's inter-school dance competition for the hearing impaired with Poonam Pandey, Devangi Dalal, Dr.Jayant Gandhi, Ali Asgar, Kunickaa Sadanand, Sanjay Chhel, Aneel Murarka & many others.

Lend these kids your ears!

It was a momentous day for JOSH Foundation when a 100 hearing impaired children from seven schools took to stage,  dancing to songs, choreographed on the diverse culture of India. With parents, Principals, and Dr.Jayant Gandhi and Audiologist-Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal cheering on, the children to danced artistically choreographed numbers in sync. Not one made it evident that he/she is hearing impaired! Hearing impairment aids were also distributed to children on the occasion.

ENT Specialist Dr.Jayant Gandhi and Audiologist-Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal are behind many a children learning to overcome their hearing impairment, under their tutelege, as infants, or from the time their hearing impairment has been detected.

Says Geeta Shelar, Principal, Sadhana Vidyalaya For Deaf, "Today, each child has emerged a winner as they took to stage and overcame their impairment to emerge victorious.  Not one of them wants to come second or third. They all wish to be No 1. This is the strength that JOSH Foundation's initiative has given them."

Adds Devangi Dalal, "When a child learns a dance from, say, Assam, he decides to learn about the culture, the region, the geographical and historical significance, the costumes among others. The child lives and breathes Assam and when they perform, they exude that confidence that comes from the strength of knowledge. Not one child missed a step. Tomorrow,  these children will grow up to be engineers, choreographers,  entrepreneurs, in their own right.  One of my students went to the University of Rochester and wrote a mail saying he was the only hearing impaired student who could speak and he learnt sign language to communicate with his hearing impaired peers at the college. His learning here ensured he could communicate and speak though he could not hear.  Now that is something we want each of these children to do -- grow up to be people who make a dent in any field they choose. And emerge winners always.”

Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs at the Chhtarapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahalaya [Prince of Wales Museum] after Two Decades

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya(Prince of Wales Museum) resonated to the sound of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod on Friday evening. The maestro's performance is part of the celebration of the momentous exhibition, India & The World: A History of Nine Stories, at the CSMVS that celebrates the Indian culture and its interaction with the rest of the world. Ustadji being a leading exponent of Sarod, an instrument that has its roots in Central Asia and a globally celebrated artist was perfect to represent this exchange of India with the world. 

The crowd remained mesmerised for over 90 minutes rooted to their seats, clapping as Ustadji with musicians Pandit Vijay Ghate on the tabla and Sridhar Parthasarthy on the mridangam took us on a melodious musical journey, sometimes with soulful ragas and other times with energetic jugalbandis, that made the museum come alive, literally!

Glimpses...