Rajarani Music Festival–2026 Begins at Historic Rajarani Temple

Bhubaneswar: The three-day Rajarani Music Festival–2026 commenced on Thursday at the picturesque premises of the historic Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar. Organised by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department in collaboration with the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, the annual cultural festival will continue from January 16 to 18, 2026, celebrating India’s rich classical music traditions.

Inaugurating the festival, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who attended the event as the chief guest, said that the Rajarani Music Festival stands as a vibrant symbol of India’s cultural heritage. He observed that classical and traditional music have given Odisha, and the country as a whole, a distinct identity on the global cultural map. Extending his greetings to the participating musicians and classical music enthusiasts, Pradhan felicitated eminent Odissi music guru Achyuta Maharana, renowned music scholar Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, and the artists who performed on the inaugural evening.

The opening evening featured a soulful Odissi music recital by Guru Achyuta Maharana and his ensemble. The performance began with the raga-based composition “Nishi Natha Badani” in Raga Bajrakanti and Jati Tala, followed by “Manu Jau Nahin Ma” in Raga Shankarabharanam and Rupak Tala. The recital also included the natyanga “Na Ja Yamuna” and concluded with the bhajan “Kanja Charane”, composed by Singhari Damodar and Singhari Shyam Sundar. Guru Achyuta Maharana captivated the audience with his elaborate raga exposition and emotive presentation, ably supported by Guru Sachchidananda Das on mardala, Dr Jawahar Mishra on flute, Guru Muralidhar Swain on harmonium, and Mamata Srichandan and Sangeeta Nayak on tanpura.

The second performance of the evening showcased a dynamic Tala Kirtan presentation by Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and his team. His intricate rhythmic compositions, innovative use of taans and sargams, and command over percussion enthralled the audience. He was accompanied by Ameya Bichu on harmonium, Shabari Talwalkar and Kaustubh Swain on tabla, Ishan Pramod Paranjpe on konnakol, Abhishek Bhuruk on drums, and Nadukkandi Vinayadas Ramadasan on vocals.

Both the Odissi music and Tala Kirtan performances received an enthusiastic response from the audience. The specially created selfie point at the festival venue also drew a large number of young visitors, adding to the festive atmosphere.