Grand Cultural Evening Marks Magh Mela 2026 Celebrations in Prayagraj

As part of Magh Mela 2026, a vibrant and spiritually rich Cultural Evening was organised on Monday at the Kala Sangam Cultural Pavilion, Sector 3, Fort–Minto Park Road, Parade Ground, in Prayagraj.

The programme was hosted by the Department of Sanskrit, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and witnessed an impressive confluence of folk, classical music and dance traditions from across the state.

The event was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi, Additional Director of Culture Dr Srishti Dhawan, and Prayagraj Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani, in the presence of dignitaries, artists and a large audience.

Soulful Performances Enthral the Audience

The evening began on an auspicious note with renowned folk singer Uday Chand Pardesi from Prayagraj, who opened the programme with devotional Devi songs rooted in regional folk traditions.

He was felicitated by Shobhit Nahar, Director of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natya Samiti, along with cultural coordinator Ghulam Sarwar, in recognition of his contribution to folk music.

The second presentation featured Varun Mishra of Prayagraj and his team, who delivered a captivating rendition of “Chalo Man Ganga Yamuna Teere, evoking deep spiritual resonance among the listeners.

This was followed by a graceful folk dance performance of Dhediya by Kriti Srivastava from Prayagraj, whose expressive movements and rhythmic storytelling earned warm applause.

The highlight of the evening came with Padma Shri Malini Awasthi’s mesmerising folk rendition of “Chalo Ri Guiya, Ganga Nahaye Len”, which left the audience spellbound and infused the venue with devotional fervour.

Adding a unique dimension to the programme, Ram Janam from Varanasi astonished the gathering with prolonged and powerful conch (shankh) blowing, creating an atmosphere of spiritual elevation.

Further performances included soulful folk songs by Sangeeta Mishra from Prayagraj, classical music by Varun Mishra from Lucknow, and a spellbinding Kathak recital by Neeta Joshi of Lucknow, each earning enthusiastic appreciation from the audience.

Honouring Excellence

On this occasion, Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani was formally honoured by Dr Srishti Dhawan with a ceremonial stole and floral bouquet.

Padma Shri Malini Awasthi was also felicitated by the Mayor and later honoured once again by Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal, marking a moment of pride and recognition.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks to all guests and artists. The entire cultural evening was smoothly and elegantly anchored by Dr Abha Madhur, whose conduct added grace to the event.

Dignitaries Present

Among those present were senior officials and cultural representatives including Dr Srishti Dhawan, Director Shobhit Nahar, Nodal Officer Subhash Yadav, Ghulam Sarwar, District Development Officer G. P. Kushwaha, PD Bhupendra Singh, and officials from the Culture Department including Rakesh Kumar Verma, Harishchandra Dubey, Roshan Kumar, Ajay Maurya, Shubham, Satyam, Nirbhay, Raju Yadav, along with several administrative officers.

Highlights of January 5 Programmes

The Magh Mela cultural celebrations will continue on January 5, featuring:

• Dhrupad recital by Pandit Vinod Dwivedi (Kanpur)
• Folk songs by Harpreet Kaur (Varanasi)
• Vocal performance by Manoj Joshi (Chandigarh)
• Classical dance-drama by Shubham Tiwari (Lucknow)
• Diwari folk dance-drama by Vipin Yadav (Mahoba)
• Keyboard performance by Vijay Chandra (Prayagraj)

With such rich artistic offerings, the Magh Mela 2026 continues to celebrate India’s cultural diversity and timeless traditions on the sacred banks of the Sangam.

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