Ahmedabad: Surging ahead with its glorious tradition of reintroducing monuments to a larger audience through mesmerising music festivals, Crraft Of Art, an initiative of noted Bharatanatyam and folk dancer Birwa Qureshi, will host the Water Festival at Rani Ni Vav in Patan and Adalaj Ni Vav in Ahmedabad on November 19 and 25 respectively.
For the past thirteen consecutive years, Crraft of Art has taken many monuments closer to people through a rich and unique blend of quality thematic music and display of the monuments’ innate craftsmanship, beauty and splendour. Its Sufi, Water, and Goombaj Festivals in Ahmedabad and other places in Gujarat have created a special place in the minds and hearts of people for the variety and quality of music and its concept and idea of linking citizens with the rich heritage of magnificent monuments.
In April, Crraft Of Art hosted Trikaal Festival at the world-famous Ellora Caves and Sun Festival at Modhera Sun Temple in October.
“We are delighted to present the Water Festival at Rani Ni Vav and Adalaj Ni Vav. The Water Festival will allow the audiences to experience the magnificence of the two incredibly beautiful monuments amidst enchanting performances by some very well-known artists. On the occasion of World Heritage Week (November 19 to 25) these two festivals will be memorable for the artists and the audiences alike,” said Birwa Qureshi, Founder and Artistic Director, Crraft Of Art.
The Water Festival at Rani Ni Vav will feature two different sets of performing artists. The first set will be a jugalbandi by tabla maestro Ustad Fazal Qureshi, who has captivated audiences all over the world over the past 35 years, and Ayaan Ali Bangash on Sarod, who has won the hearts of music lovers both in India and abroad with his soulful performances on the sarod. Their performance will be followed by folk singer Aditya Gadhvi, who has rendered songs in many languages.
A special performance by the Dhol Tashe group from Maharashtra is also bound the leave the audience mesmerised. Popular TV actor Manav Gohil will host the evening.
At the Water Festival at Adalaj Ni Vav will feature some of the country’s most famous musicians led by Ustad Fazal Qureshi on Tabla along with percussionist Drums Shivamani, who has performed around the world and collaborated with the biggest names in the music industry.
There will also be performances by sitar player, composer and Grammy award nominee Ravindra Chary, award-winning keyboard player Stephen Devassy, session bass player, composer, and music producer Sheldon D’silva, and versatile dholak player Navin Sharma.
Meitei Pung Cholom Drummers, one of India’s premier performance troupes, will also perform at the Water Festival and mesmerise the audience with a unique combination of dance, drumming, and martial arts. Actor Vrajesh Hirji will host the event.
