Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music brings together Jayateerth Mevundi, Louiz Banks, Yogesh Samsi, Devaki Pandit, Rajiv Sethi, Fazal Qureshi, Taufiq Qureshi and leading musicians for a day-long celebration of the guru-shishya tradition MUMBAI, August 11, 2026: What does it mean to remember a guru? For generations of Indian musicians, it has meant carrying forward not just …
Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music brings together Jayateerth Mevundi, Louiz Banks, Yogesh Samsi, Devaki Pandit, Rajiv Sethi, Fazal Qureshi, Taufiq Qureshi and leading musicians for a day-long celebration of the guru-shishya tradition
MUMBAI, August 11, 2026: What does it mean to remember a guru? For generations of Indian musicians, it has meant carrying forward not just music, but a way of listening, learning, practising and living with the art. It is this enduring relationship that the Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music celebrates through Pranam – A Guru Purnima Celebration, a day-long programme on Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 2 pm to 11 pm at Veer Savarkar Auditorium, Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Entry is free and open to all.
At the heart of Pranam is the spirit of remembering one’s gurus. This Guru Purnima celebration remembers Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain as gurus whose music, discipline, knowledge and artistic values continue to shape generations of musicians. The celebration brings together artists and musical experiences that reflect the continuing influence of the traditions they nurtured.
The day unfolds across three distinct sessions — a solo vocal recital, an interactive discussion examining the changing face and phase of Indian classical music, and a large-scale percussion jam bringing together musicians across generations and genres.
Jayateerth Mevundi in a Solo Vocal Recital
The programme opens with acclaimed vocalist Jayateerth Mevundi, one of the leading voices of the Kirana gharana, in a solo vocal recital featuring rare afternoon ragas.
The recital places the focus entirely on the voice and the depth of the classical tradition, setting the tone for a celebration rooted in the guru-shishya parampara and the knowledge passed from one generation of musicians to another.
Changing of Face & Phase of Indian Classical Music
The second session turns to the evolution of Indian classical music with an interactive discussion titled “Changing of Face & Phase of Indian Classical Music.”
Tabla maestro Yogesh Samsi, vocalist Devaki Pandit, music connoisseur Rajiv Sethi, and sitarist Mehtab Ali Niazi will come together for a conversation on how Indian classical music is evolving — its changing forms of presentation, the shifting relationship between artists and audiences, and the ways in which musicians and the arts continue to respond to changing times.
The session will be moderated by Shashi Vyas, founder of Pancham Nishad.
The discussion adds a contemporary dimension to Pranam: while Guru Purnima is about remembering what has been received from one’s gurus, the conversation explores how that knowledge and tradition continue to evolve in the present.
The Evening Turns to Rhythm
The celebration culminates in a high-energy percussion jam led by Ustad Fazal Qureshi, the driving force behind the programme, bringing together an exceptional ensemble of musicians including Taufiq Qureshi, Gino Banks, Sridhar Parthasarathy, Sheldon D’Silva, Sangeet Haldipur and Nitin Shankar.
The programme will also feature vocal performances by Ramakant Gaikwad and Bhagyashree Panchale, as well as other artists performing on pakhawaj and tabla.
The finale brings musicians from different generations and musical backgrounds together through rhythm, improvisation and collaboration — creating an energetic closing to a celebration rooted in the idea of musical inheritance.
A Celebration of the Guru-Shishya Parampara
In Indian classical music, the guru-shishya relationship has traditionally extended far beyond the teaching of repertoire or technique. It encompasses discipline, aesthetics, values, interpretation and an understanding of music that is often transmitted through years of close observation and practice.
Pranam celebrates this living tradition by remembering the gurus who have shaped generations and by bringing together artists who continue to carry forward what they have learnt.
The celebration is both a remembering and a continuation — an acknowledgement of the gurus who came before, and of the artists who keep their knowledge, values and musical traditions alive while allowing the tradition to evolve with each generation.
EVENT DETAILS
Programme: Pranam – A Guru Purnima Celebration
Presented by: Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music
Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Venue: Veer Savarkar Auditorium, Shivaji Park, Mumbai
Entry: Free and open to all
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