Ravi Shankar Centre hosts cross-cultural music festival honouring two legends

The Ravi Shankar Institute of Music and Performing Arts successfully concluded the Ravi Shankar & George Harrison International Festival of Arts 2026, held from 13th to 15th February 2026 at the Ravi Shankar Centre.

Presented in commemoration of the 106th Birth Anniversary of Ravi Shankar and the 83rd Birth Anniversary of George Harrison, the three-day festival paid tribute to their enduring artistic legacy and their shared belief in music as a universal language that bridges cultures across the world.

The festival opened on 13th February with an eclectic evening of performances. Sofia Hoffmann captivated audiences with her vocal recital, followed by a stirring shehnai presentation by Ashwani Shankar. A major highlight of the evening was the debut presentation of the Ravi Shankar Ensemble at the Ravi Shankar Centre. Curated by Sukanya Shankar and Anoushka Shankar, the ensemble featured Shubhendra Rao (sitar), Aayush Mohan (sarod), Ravi Chandra Kulur (flute), Anubrata Chatterjee (tabla), B. C. Manjunath (mridangam), and Padma Shankar (violin), offering a powerful confluence of instrumental traditions.

"It was indeed an honour for me to lead this ensemble of wonderful musicians. Personally, for me, it takes me back almost four decades of my own life and musical journey since I have performed many of these pieces during my formative years under my Guru and have memories of performing it in the Kremlin, at Queen Elizabeth Hall and others," said sitarist Shubhendra Rao.

On 14th February, audiences were treated to a soulful sitar recital by Radha Krishna ji, a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, followed by an evocative Dhrupad performance by the Mallick Brothers, bringing depth and gravitas to the festival’s second evening.

The concluding day, 15th February, celebrated the richness of Kathak. Tulani Kayani Skeef from London opened the evening with a graceful performance, followed by a special guest appearance by Sujata Banerjee. Kathak exponent Deepti Gupta, disciple of Guru Pt. Rajendra Gangani, presented a compelling recital rooted in tradition. The festival culminated with “Avatarana,” a grand finale presented by Ramaa Bharadvaj, bringing the three-day celebration to a resonant close.

Across its three days, the Ravi Shankar & George Harrison International Festival of Arts 2026 stood as a vibrant celebration of timeless artistry—where tradition, excellence, and cross-cultural dialogue converged. The festival reaffirmed the enduring influence of Pandit Ravi Shankar and George Harrison, carrying forward their vision of artistic collaboration and global harmony.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”