A Dhrupad Music Workshop followed by a Vocal Concert featuring Pandit Uday Bhawalkar, an advocate of the Dhrupad genre and a classical vocalist in the Dagar tradition of 20 generations, took place from August 23 to 25, 2025. Presented by the Nad Music Institution, ITC Sangeet Research Academy, and Punjab Arts Council at Punjab Kala Bhawan in Chandigarh, the event reflected their collaborative efforts at promoting the preservation of ancient musical traditions coupled with Gurbani Kirtan.
Dhrupad Music Workshop
Punjab Kala Bhawan is an intimate yet vibrant cultural environment with a capacity to accommodate up to 250 guests. The two-day Dhrupad Music Workshop attracted 30 music lovers, practitioners, and students, eager to deepen their experience with Dhrupad Sangeet under the careful guidance and inspiration of Pandit Uday Bhawalkar.
August 23rd Day One – Dhrupad Sangeet is an ancient contemplative style of Indian classical music that focuses on the spiritual element of raga rather than entertainment. The opening day focused on the meditative form of Alaap, and Bandish. Alaap is a free-flowing aesthetic arrangement sung in a prelude that elaborates on the nature of the raga, and is presented as an introduction to the classic raga rhythmic structure of the Bandish composition. Participants focused primarily on the subtle beauties of Raag Vrindavanti Sarang.
August 24th Day Two – The focus shifted to Swar Abhyas, understanding the basic seven notes Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Dha, Ni, and their relationship with the Alaap and how the arrangement of notes defines musical boundaries, which concluded with a Gurbani Shabad rendered in Raag Bilawal. The learning experience, enriched with spiritual reflection, enriched and rewarded participants with inspiration, described as “fulfilling, informative, and transformative.”
Nad Music Institute and Pandit Uday Bhawalkar presented the participants with Certificates and Awards during the closing session.
Dhrupad Concert
August 25th Final Day Two – The Dhrupad Music Workshop concluded with a captivating Dhrupad Vocal Concert. Pandit Uday Bhawalkar, accompanied by Shri Pratap Awad (Pakhawaj), Shri Prassanna Vishvanathan (Supporting Vocalist), Ustad Jay Singh & Harmanjit Singh (Tamburas), performed a meditative Dhrupad Alaap in Raag Kedar followed by Dhamar, an asymmetrical tall having 14 beats arranged into a 5-2-3-4 pattern played on the Pakhavaj a barrel-shaped two-headed drum, and Bandish in Sool Fakhta Taal having 5 beats, played on Tabla.
As an expression of gratitude, this group of amazing artists received a framed reproduction of William Carpenter’s 1854 painting of the interior of Sri Darbar Sahib, commonly known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar.
Community Response
The enthusiastic participation of the community during the events highlighted the growing response to Nad Music Institute's ongoing efforts to promote and preserve India’s most ancient surviving classical music tradition.
