Pune: Three Day 12th Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Sangeet Mahotsav to begin on September 12
Pune: Three Day 12th Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Sangeet Mahotsav to begin on September 12
Belgaum’s world-renowned Flute player Pt. Rajendra Kulkarni has been announced as the recipient of this year’s Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Award.
Pune, September 8, 2025: Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal and The Aundh Social Foundation are jointly organizing the 12th Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Sangeet Mahotsav on September 12, 13, and 14 at the Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Rangmandir in Aundh. This information was provided by Pt. Sudhakar Chavan, founder of Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal and Kirana Gharana singer, and Architect Abhijit Subhash Gaikwad, founder and chairman of The Aundh Social Foundation, at a press conference held today.
The festival will be held from 5 pm to 10 pm on all three days. The festival will be free and open to all. Entry to the festival will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis, and some seats will be reserved for invitees, they added. Shirish Naikare Patil, Secretary of The Aundh Social Foundation, Shashwati Chavhan, Trustee of Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal and Shashi Sudhanshu were also present during the Press Conference.
While sharing more details about the festival, Pt. Sudhakar Chavan said, “Intending to provide music lovers with the opportunity to experience performances by both upcoming talented artists and renowned veteran artists, we have been organizing the Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Sangeet Mahotsav in Aundh for the past 11 years in collaboration with Gurukul Kalashree Sangeet Mandal and The Aundh Social Foundation. We are delighted that this year marks the 12th edition of the festival.” He also expressed confidence that, like every year, music enthusiasts will attend the festival with great enthusiasm this year as well.
Abhijit Subhash Gaikwad informed that the Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Award, given annually by the organizers, has been announced for this year to Pt. Rajendra Kulkarni, a world-renowned Flute player from Belgaum. The award will be presented to Pt. Kulkarni on the last day of the festival, which is the third day.
The festival will begin on Friday, September 12, with a performance by Viraj Joshi, grandson of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and a promising vocalist of the Kirana Gharana. This will be followed by a flute performance by renowned flautist Pt. Pravin Godkhindi. The first day of the festival will conclude with a vocal performance by Ronkini Gupta.
On the second day of the festival (September 13), Pt. Sudhakar Chavan will kick-start the proceedings with his singing. This will be followed by a solo tabla performance by Padma Shri Pt. Vijay Ghate. The second day of the festival will conclude with a performance by Pt. Ram Deshpande.
On Sunday, September 14, the third day of the festival will begin with a performance by Aarti Nayak, and the 12th Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Sangeet Mahotsav will conclude with a performance by renowned Kathak dancer Sharvari Jamenis. In this, Sharvari Jamenis and tabla player Nikhil Phatak will present under the program ‘Kathak Tabla Milaf – Couple of Many Things’
Throughout the festival, Umesh Purohit, Prabhakar Pandav, Gangadhar Shinde, Nilay Salvi and Abhishek Shinkar will provide harmonium accompaniment, while Pt. Ramdas Palsule, Pandurang Pawar, Kishor Korde, Ajinkya Joshi, and Nandkishor Dhere will accompany on the tabla. Additionally, Suranjan Khandalkar will be accompanying the artists on vocals and Gambhir Maharaj on pakhavaj. The festival will be hosted by Akash Thite.
