New Delhi, Priyadarshini Vihar –From May 27th to 29th, Kala Chaitanya Society organized a grand three-day Tabla and Dholak workshop at the Priyadarshini Vihar Club. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Shrikant Shukla, an awardee of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi and a distinguished expert in Tabla and Dholak. Art enthusiasts from Delhi-NCR and nearby regions participated with great enthusiasm.

The workshop was completely free of cost and open to individuals of all age groups. Participants received intensive training in the fundamentals of Tabla and Dholak, including basic techniques, understanding of rhythmic cycles (taals), hand coordination, and practical aspects of rhythm and tempo.

Sh. Vishavdeep, the President of Kala Chaitanya Society and an internationally acclaimed Kathak artist, shared that the objective of this workshop was not only to impart training but also to preserve and pass on vanishing art forms to future generations. He remarked,”Just as ancient languages like Prakrit and Pali faded away due to lack of preservation, many art forms are also nearing extinction. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that cultural conservation does not remain confined to words, but is practiced at a grassroots level”.

The Society’s Secretary, Sh. Pradeep Kumar Pathak, emphasized that the initiative aimed to connect people from all walks of life with music. He believes that engagement with the arts positively influences one’s mindset, sensitivity, and social behavior.

The workshop commenced with a ceremonial welcome by Sh. Ashok Tiwari, Secretary of Sanskar Bharati – Kala Sankul, who felicitated Dr. Shrikant Shukla with a traditional angavastram. The event was graced by several esteemed personalities, including senior Kathak guru Sh. Subhash Chandra, renowned theatre artist and Head of the Theatre Department at Modern School, Delhi, Sh. Raj Upadhyay, Secretary of Priyadarshini Vihar Club, Smt. Shikha Sobti, and Head of Dance at Mata Gujri School, Smt. Ruchika Bagga.

Over the course of three days, the workshop fostered an atmosphere of inspiration and deep emotional engagement. Participants described the experience as invaluable and expressed a keen desire for more such initiatives in the future.

The monthly symposium began with a heartfelt tribute to the innocent civilians martyred in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. All present members observed two minutes of silence, expressing their emotions in an unspeakable way. The entire atmosphere seemed to be immersed in a silent prayer.

On the auspicious occasion of the lighting of the lamp, all distinguished guests performed the lamp lighting ceremony, illuminating the stage.

Following this, a melodious stream of music began. The soulful singing by Mr. Vijay Rawal and Mr. Veer Mani Trivedi touched the hearts of everyone present. Their mastery of voice filled the atmosphere with unseen compassion and hope.

The main attraction of the symposium was the analytical discussion on the theatrical presentation ‘Arey Gadbadi Ho Gayi’, inspired by the Sanskrit play ‘Bhagavadjukkam’ by Bodhayan, directed by Raj Upadhyay, and performed by Navras Group.

In this discussion, the depth of the story, authenticity of the acting, the liveliness of the stage arrangement, and the artistic features of the entire presentation were examined in detail. Critics appreciated the dedication and effort of the Navras Group artists, stating that the presentation not only entertained but also sparked deep contemplation.

The Navras Group artists were deeply moved after hearing such a heartfelt and in-depth review of their performance. They expressed that such analytical discussions inspired them to further deepen their theatrical practice. They also expressed their gratitude to Sanskar Bharti for providing such a valuable platform.

To elevate the dignity of the event, the presence of several distinguished guests was noteworthy. Dr. Prashant Upadhyay, Delhi Province Minister, Senior NSD theater artist Mr. Pradeep Mohanty, Mrs. Shashi Prabha Tiwari, educationist Dr. Ruchika, and Mr. Manish Jha honored the event with their esteemed presence.

The success of the program was greatly aided by the contributions of Delhi Province’s stage art coordinator Mr. Raj Upadhyay, senior theater artist Shyam Kumar, Shraboni Saha, Garima Rani, Vishwadeep, Sneha Mukherjee, Raman Kumar, Saurav Tripathi, Pradeep Pathak, Mrityunjay, Brijesh, Shivam, Sushank, and Sakshi.

The event was skillfully and warmly conducted by Bharti Dag, and Mrs. Shruti Sinha concluded the art-filled evening with a heartfelt vote of thanks.