Pune News: Three Day Ustad Bale Khan Music Festival To Take Place From June 19
Pune News: Three Day Ustad Bale Khan Music Festival To Take Place From June 19
Pune, June 15, 2026: The Suhana Basant Foundation, in association with Kannada Sangha, Pune, is set to present the prestigious ‘Sitar Nawaz Ustad Bale Khan Sangeet Mahotsav 2026’, a grand three-day festival dedicated to Indian classical music. The festival will be held from June 19th to 21st at the New Auditorium, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Law College Road, Pune.
The festival will be conducted across four sessions. The session on June 19th will start at 5:00pm and the one which is on June 20 will start at 4:00 p.m. June 21st will have two sessions, the morning session will begin at 8:30am and the evening session will start at 4:00pm.
Entry to this event is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Distinguished guests expected to grace the occasion include Dhiraj Singh (Vice Chancellor, FTII Pune), Kushal Hegde (President, Kannada Sangha), renowned sitar maestro Ustad Usman Khan, Indira Salian (Vice President, Kannada Sangha), and Malati S. Kalmadi (Secretary, Kannada Sangha).
The festival will open on Friday, June 19, with a unique Sitar Panchak, featuring eminent sitarists of Dharwad Gharana Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan, Ustad Rafique Khan, Ustad Shafique Khan, Rais Bale Khan, and Mansoor Khan, accompanied by Hemant Joshi and Soham Gorane on tabla. The opening day will also showcase ‘Bahurang’, unique choreographies in Kathak by Nirupama and Rajendra, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees and Abhinava Team, Bengaluru.
On Saturday, June 20, the festival will feature a vocal recital by noted Kirana Gharana vocalist Pt. Sudhakar Chavan, accompanied by Rushikesh Jagtap (Tabla) and Gangadhar Shinde (Harmonium). This will be followed by a Santoor recital by Pt. Abhay Rustum Sopori, accompanied by Pt. Ramdas Palsule (Tabla). The day will conclude with a vocal performance by Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar, accompanied by Bharat Kamat (Tabla) and Suyog Kundalkar (Harmonium).
The morning session on Sunday, June 21, will begin with a vocal recital by Ustad Arshad Ali Khan, accompanied by Bharat Kamat (Tabla) and Suyog Kundalkar (Harmonium). This will be followed by a rare vocal–flute jugalbandi featuring Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi and Pt. Praveen Godkhindi, accompanied by Ajinkya Joshi (Tabla) and Narendra Nayak (Harmonium).
The evening session will present a captivating Sarod–Sitar duet by Abhishek Borkar and Mohasin Khan, accompanied by Ajinkya Joshi (Tabla). Acclaimed vocalist Vidushi Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar will then perform with Pandurang Pawar (Tabla) and Abhinay Rawande (Harmonium). The festival will culminate with a grand vocal recital by Padma Shri awardee Pandit Venkatesh Kumar, accompanied by Bharat Kamat (Tabla) and Suyog Kundalkar (Harmonium).
Bringing together some of the finest exponents of Indian classical music and dance, the festival promises an enriching cultural experience and a memorable celebration of the rich legacy of Hindustani classical arts.
