Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited Rajarani Music Festival is set to begin from Friday at the historic Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar, which will come alive with the sounds of classical music.
Organised by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi under the patronage of Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, the 3-day festival will run till January 18 at the open-air stage on the temple premises. The inaugural evening will be graced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who will atten
d the event as the chief guest.
This year’s edition of Rajarani Utsav promises a rich tapestry of performances by renowned musicians from Odisha and across India. The lineup includes Guru Achyuta Maharana and Group ‘Odissi Sangeet’ from Puri district, Padma Shri awardee Pandit Suresh Talwar and Group ‘Taal Kirtan’, Dr Sumitra Vasudev (Carnatic music), Dr Ulhas Kashalkar (Hindustani music), Guru Bishwaranjan Nanda and Group with a Tabla–Mardal jugalbandi and Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori (instrumental music).
The Rajarani Music Festival has become one of Odisha’s most celebrated cultural events, offering audiences a chance to experience diverse traditions of Indian classical music against the backdrop of the 11th-century eponymous temple. It is expected to draw thousands of visitors, both domestic and international, making it one of the city’s most anticipated events of the year.