Mumbai:
Folk singers will regale audience at a 15-day-long festival celebrating ‘Kajari’, a form of semi -classical singing popular in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, that begins here from Wednesday.
Ministers from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will attend the event. Abhiyan, a social and cultural organisation headed by Mumbai BJP general secretary Amarjeet Mishra, is organising the programme in the metropolis, which has a large North Indian population.
“The festival will begin from tomorrow (August 1) and conclude on the Independence Day,” Mishra told PTI. Stating the objectives of the festival, Mishra said, “North Indians who have migrated to Mumbai miss celebrating the month of Sawan (as per Hindu calender)”.
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“Our aim of holding the ‘Kajari’ festival is to provide a platform to them to enjoy this semi-classical singing (which is closely linked to monsoon).” The festival also seeks to connect the younger generation with folk music, Mishra added.
Famous folk singers, including Suresh Shukla and Madhu Pandey, will entertain the audience, he said. Senior UP ministers Swatantra Dev Singh (Transport), Mahendra Singh (Rural development), Neelkanth Tiwari (Cultural, Science and Technology), Mohsin Raza (Minister of
State for Minorities and Waqf), Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal and Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal will attend the festival, Mishra added.
MPs Harish Dwivedi, Gopal Shetty and Kirit Somaiya, among others, will also be in attendance, he said. “We are organising the festival at 20 locations in the city and its outskirts this year. These include Andheri, Dadar, Dahisar, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Bhandup, Wadala, Dombivili, Diva, Mira Road and Vasai Road,” he said.
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The year’s festival will be dedicated to “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, a pet scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the girl child, the BJP leader said.
Also, a few shortlisted women achievers, who have made outstanding contribution to the society, will be awarded by Abhiyan, he said.
