The first Diwali Pahat concert of this initiative carried a quiet significance of its own. At Athashri Bavdhan, the festival of lights was being celebrated away from families, in a space that held both togetherness and an unspoken sense of distance.
The morning began with Raag Ahir Bhairav, setting a gentle, reflective tone, followed by compositions like Guru Ek Jagi Trata, Padmanabha Narayana, Marmabandhatali Thev, and Ghan Nila Ladiwala, leading into an abhang medley. The presentation of Ahir Bhairav, along with the bandish “Deepawali” in Raag Nat Bhairav—composed specially for the festival by our Guru—brought a depth that felt especially close to the spirit of the occasion.
It felt, in many ways, like lighting a musical lamp—something small, yet meaningful, offered in the spirit of the day. And somewhere between the notes and silences, it was evident—while there was a sense of missing their loved ones, there was also a gentle happiness in sharing that moment together.