Shri Upasana Festival – Classical Music & Dance Featuring Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam & Hindustani Music
About the Event

Experience an evening dedicated to the richness of Indian classical music and dance at the Shri Upasana Festival, a cultural celebration bringing together traditional art forms and contemporary interpretations of India's classical heritage.

Hosted at Upasana, the festival presents a diverse lineup spanning Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, and Hindustani music. The programme brings together accomplished performers and creative collaborations, offering audiences an opportunity to experience different classical traditions within one cultural gathering.

The festival features a varied programme including Hindustani music by Smruthi S Bhat and S. Uday Chandra Aradhya, Bharatanatyam through Beyond the Stone: Ahalya Reimagined, a Mohiniyattam presentation by Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan, Kathak through Vykatitva by Upasana Collective, and another Bharatanatyam performance by Agasti Sri Chandra Lekha.

The carefully varied lineup allows the audience to move across distinct Indian classical traditions, each with its own vocabulary of rhythm, movement, expression, music, and storytelling.

With its connection to Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations, the Shri Upasana Festival offers a fitting cultural setting to experience Indian classical performance and celebrate the season through art.

Come experience the depth, beauty, movement, music, and storytelling of India's classical traditions at the Shri Upasana Festival.

A Celebration of Indian Classical Arts

The Shri Upasana Festival brings together several important traditions of Indian classical performance.

Classical music and dance have long served as forms of artistic expression, storytelling, discipline, rhythm, and cultural continuity. This festival presents multiple traditions in one programme, allowing audiences to experience their distinct styles and performance languages.

From the expressive storytelling of Bharatanatyam and Kathak to the graceful vocabulary of Mohiniyattam and the musical traditions of Hindustani performance, the event offers a broad introduction to classical Indian art.

The varied programme also creates an opportunity for audiences to discover performances they may not have experienced before.

Hindustani Music

The musical section of the festival features:

Smruthi S Bhat & S. Uday Chandra Aradhya

The Hindustani music presentation adds a melodic and vocal dimension to the evening, complementing the dance performances that form the other major part of the programme.

The inclusion of Hindustani music creates a balance between musical listening and movement-based performance, giving the festival a broader classical arts identity.

Bharatanatyam – Beyond the Stone: Ahalya Reimagined

One of the Bharatanatyam presentations is:

Beyond the Stone: Ahalya Reimagined
Pratima Pandurangi & Dr. Dhruva Ithal

The presentation brings Bharatanatyam together with a reimagined interpretation of Ahalya, introducing a storytelling element to the classical dance format.

Bharatanatyam is known for its combination of rhythm, expressive gestures, structured movement, and storytelling. This performance forms one of the festival's featured explorations of the form.

The title suggests an interpretive approach that places a familiar narrative within a classical dance framework.

Mohiniyattam

The festival also features a Mohiniyattam presentation by:

Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan

Mohiniyattam brings a distinctive movement vocabulary to the programme, adding another classical dance tradition to the evening.

Its inclusion alongside Bharatanatyam and Kathak allows audiences to experience contrasting approaches to movement, expression, rhythm, and storytelling within Indian classical dance.

The performance contributes to the overall diversity of the festival.

Kathak – Vykatitva by Upasana Collective

The Kathak segment of the festival is:

Vykatitva by Upasana Collective

Kathak brings another distinct classical dance language to the programme, known for its emphasis on rhythm, movement, expression, and storytelling.

The presentation adds variety to the festival by introducing a North Indian classical dance tradition alongside the South Indian forms featured elsewhere in the programme.

The title Vykatitva adds an individual and expressive dimension to the performance, while the Upasana Collective brings the work to the festival stage.

Bharatanatyam – Agasti Sri Chandra Lekha

Another featured Bharatanatyam presentation is by:

Agasti Sri Chandra Lekha

The inclusion of a second Bharatanatyam performance adds further depth to the dance programme while giving the audience another opportunity to experience the form through a different presentation.

Together, the Bharatanatyam works contribute significantly to the festival's exploration of Indian classical dance.

A Diverse Classical Arts Lineup

The Shri Upasana Festival's programme brings together:

Hindustani Music: Smruthi S Bhat & S. Uday Chandra Aradhya

Bharatanatyam: Beyond the Stone: Ahalya Reimagined by Pratima Pandurangi & Dr. Dhruva Ithal

Mohiniyattam: Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan

Kathak: Vykatitva by Upasana Collective

Bharatanatyam: Agasti Sri Chandra Lekha

This diversity makes the festival particularly interesting for audiences who enjoy classical arts and want to experience multiple performance traditions in a single evening.

Classical Dance, Music and Storytelling

Indian classical performance is often deeply connected to storytelling and expression.

The programme combines music and dance to create different ways of engaging with traditional art. Some performances draw on narrative interpretation, while others foreground musical or movement-based expression.

This variety ensures that the festival is not limited to one artistic format.

Instead, audiences can experience a series of performances that approach classical traditions from different perspectives.

A Cultural Experience for Navaratri and Dussehra

The Shri Upasana Festival is presented as a fitting cultural experience for Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations.

Festive seasons such as Navaratri provide an especially meaningful context for experiencing Indian classical arts, with music and dance forming an important part of cultural expression and celebration.

By bringing multiple classical traditions together, the festival creates an opportunity to engage with Indian heritage through live performance.

For audiences looking to mark the festive season through culture and the arts, the programme offers an alternative to more entertainment-focused celebrations.

A Night for Classical Music and Dance Enthusiasts

The festival is suited to audiences who appreciate:

Indian classical music
Bharatanatyam
Kathak
Mohiniyattam
Traditional storytelling through dance
Cultural and artistic performances
Festive arts experiences
Live classical performances

It is also an opportunity for newcomers to discover multiple classical traditions in one programme rather than attending separate performances for each form.

An Accessible Classical Arts Experience

The festival does not require audiences to be specialists in Indian classical arts.

You can attend simply to experience the music, movement, costumes, storytelling, rhythm, and atmosphere of live classical performance.

For those already familiar with classical traditions, the varied programme provides an opportunity to explore multiple forms and interpretations.

For first-time audiences, the range of performances offers a broad introduction to the diversity of Indian classical arts.

What to Expect
Hindustani Music

Enjoy a classical music presentation by Smruthi S Bhat and S. Uday Chandra Aradhya.

Bharatanatyam

Experience two Bharatanatyam presentations, including Beyond the Stone: Ahalya Reimagined.

Mohiniyattam

Watch a presentation by Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan.

Kathak

Experience Vykatitva by Upasana Collective.

Multiple Classical Traditions

Move across different Indian classical forms within one festival programme.

Live Cultural Performance

Experience the atmosphere and immediacy of classical music and dance performed live.

Navaratri and Dussehra Setting

Celebrate the festive season through Indian classical art and cultural expression.

Festival Highlights
Evening of classical music and dance
Performances across Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, and Hindustani music
Smruthi S Bhat & S. Uday Chandra Aradhya – Hindustani Music
Beyond the Stone: Ahalya Reimagined by Pratima Pandurangi & Dr. Dhruva Ithal
Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan – Mohiniyattam
Vykatitva by Upasana Collective – Kathak
Agasti Sri Chandra Lekha – Bharatanatyam
A rich blend of music, movement, expression, and storytelling
Cultural experience suited to Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations
Things to Know Before You Attend
Age Requirement

Entry is allowed for guests aged 18 and above.

Ticket Requirement

A ticket is required for every attendee aged 18 and above.

Guests should carry the applicable ticket and valid ID proof to the event.

Pets

Pets are not allowed at the venue.

Venue Setting

The event takes place at an indoor venue without air conditioning.

Seating is open and first come, first served, so guests are advised to arrive with enough time to secure their preferred seating.

Gates Open

The gates open 15 minutes before the show time.

Guests are encouraged to plan their arrival accordingly.

Open Seating Experience

The venue follows an open-seating, first-come, first-served arrangement.

There are no assigned seats specified in the supplied event details, so guests arriving earlier may have greater choice in where they sit.

This format also allows audiences to settle into the venue and prepare for the performance before the show begins.

Venue Comfort

The event takes place in an indoor venue without AC.

Guests may wish to keep the venue conditions in mind while planning their attire and arrival, particularly because the programme is designed as an evening of live performance.

Event Entry and Security

Guests should carry a valid ID proof with them.

Security and frisking procedures remain at the right of the management.

The management may conduct security checks before allowing entry into the venue.

Prohibited Items

The venue does not allow dangerous or potentially hazardous objects, including but not limited to:

Weapons
Knives
Guns
Fireworks
Laser devices
Helmets
Bottles
Musical instruments

Such items may be ejected with or without the owner from the venue.

Guests are advised to avoid carrying restricted objects to ensure a smooth entry process.

Late Entry Policy

The organisers hold the right to deny late entry to the event.

Guests should therefore plan their arrival carefully and aim to reach the venue before the performance begins.

With gates opening 15 minutes before the show time, arriving early can help with security checks and seating.

Inebriated Guests

People in an inebriated state may not be allowed entry.

The management may determine whether entry is permitted based on the condition of the attendee at the venue.

Ticket Cancellation and Rescheduling

All ticket purchases are final and non-refundable.

If the event is cancelled, attendees will receive a full refund.

If the event is rescheduled, ticket holders may choose either to:

Retain their ticket for the rescheduled date, or

Opt for a refund.

This policy applies according to the supplied event terms.

Safety and Liability

The sponsors, performers, and organisers are not responsible for any injury or damage occurring due to the event.

Any claims relating to such injury or damage will be settled in the courts in Mumbai, as stated in the supplied terms and conditions.

Guests are expected to follow venue instructions and applicable safety procedures throughout the event.

Venue Rules

All venue rules apply.

Guests should comply with the management's security procedures, entry requirements, seating arrangements, prohibited-item restrictions, and conduct guidelines.

Experience the Shri Upasana Festival

The Shri Upasana Festival offers an evening immersed in the diversity of Indian classical music and dance.

With performances spanning Hindustani music, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Mohiniyattam, the festival brings together multiple artistic traditions in one programme.

From Smruthi S Bhat and S. Uday Chandra Aradhya in Hindustani music to Pratima Pandurangi and Dr. Dhruva Ithal, Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan, Upasana Collective, and Agasti Sri Chandra Lekha, the lineup offers a varied exploration of classical Indian performance.

The festival is also presented as a fitting cultural experience for Navaratri and Dussehra, offering audiences an opportunity to celebrate the season through music, dance, storytelling, and tradition.

Entry is for guests aged 18 and above, tickets are required for attendees in that age group, pets are not allowed, and the event takes place in an indoor venue without AC with open seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates open 15 minutes before show time.

Experience the rhythm, expression, stories, and traditions of Indian classical arts at the Shri Upasana Festival.