- From Nagara beats and Sidi Dhamal to Dastangoi, puppetry and international musical collaborations, Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaza set to become vibrant cultural stages on November 19.
- Crraft Of Art’s landmark 17th-year celebration revives Bhadra Festival, first presented in 2014, after over a decade-long hiatus.
- Ustad Fazal Qureshi: “Amdavadis are art connoisseurs and hence we continuously raise the bar of our performance.”
- Water Heritage Series on November 25 transforms three historic stepwells into immersive stages for classical music, poetry, dance and cultural discovery.
- Birwa Qureshi: Ancient water wisdom can guide urban planners, architects and citizens towards a more sustainable future.
- Free public access, heritage exhibitions, projection mapping and artistic installations promise an enriching experience blending entertainment, education and conservation.
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, NOV 3
What if a historic fort became a theatre, a medieval gateway turned into a concert arena, and centuries-old stepwells transformed into stages for classical music, poetry and dance? Ahmedabad is about to experience precisely this extraordinary cultural convergence. After a 12-year hiatus, Bhadra Festival returns on November 19, bringing the city’s architectural treasures alive through music, theatre, folk traditions, storytelling and visual arts. Six days later, on November 25, the Water Heritage Series will take audiences on an evocative journey through three historic stepwells, connecting ancient water wisdom with contemporary sustainability. Together, these two initiatives promise much more than entertainment: they invite Amdavadis to rediscover their city’s extraordinary civilisational legacy and become custodians of its heritage.
Bhadra returns: a 12-year wait ends
For Crraft Of Art, the return to Bhadra is both an emotional homecoming and a significant cultural undertaking. First presented in 2014, the festival returns to Ahmedabad’s historic precinct on November 19, coinciding with World Heritage Week, as part of the organisation’s 17th-year celebrations.
Explaining the significance of the revival, tabla maestro Ustad Fazal Qureshi said that organising such a festival in a historic precinct involves years of coordination and planning.
“It takes over five years of coordination and planning with all stakeholders, AMC, ASI etc. It will help the citizens in Ahmedabad and surrounding areas to understand the historic monuments in this UNESCO heritage city,” he said.
The festival’s ambition is to make heritage accessible and experiential rather than confining it to history books, archival photographs or guided monument visits.
Birwa Qureshi, Founder and Artistic Director of Crraft Of Art, said: “Returning to Bhadra after twelve years is very special for us. We wanted to bring together the many layers of this historic precinct, its architecture, theatre, music, traditions and everyday life, and invite people to rediscover spaces they have known for years, but perhaps never experienced quite this way.”
No compromise on artistic excellence
What makes the festival particularly appealing is its eclectic artistic canvas, bringing together accomplished Indian and international performers, traditional art forms and contemporary expressions.
Asked about the selection criteria for international and domestic artists, Ustad Fazal Qureshi explained that artistic competence and the ability to engage audiences remain paramount.
“There is no hard and fast rules. The only criteria is their competency in delivering their best to entertain the discerning audience. Amdavadis are art connoisseurs and hence we continuously raise the bar of our performance,” he said.
His observation captures the cultural aspirations of Ahmedabad, where audiences have increasingly demonstrated an appetite for performances that combine artistic depth, innovation and excellence.
Bhadra Festival: A heritage precinct becomes a cultural stage
Beginning at 4 pm on November 19, the festival will unfold across Bhadra Fort, the Premabhai Hall precinct and Bhadra Plaza, culminating in a grand musical concert at Teen Darwaza at 7.15 pm.
The programme promises an impressive diversity of India’s performing arts.
Folk traditions and performing arts: Nagara by Nathulal Solanki and Troupe; Ravanhatta by Vijanand Turi and Troupe; Sidi Dhamal by the Sidi Goma Dance Group; Mallakhamb by Incredible Mallakhamb from Maharashtra; and Natya Sangeet presented by Nisarg Trivedi and Ensemble.
Theatre, storytelling and puppetry: A giant puppet parade by Dadi Pudumjee’s Ishara Puppet Theatre will bring visual spectacle to the historic precinct. Dastan-e-Darwaza, presented through the traditional storytelling form of Dastangoi, and Bhadrakhyan, a Gujarati narrative performance, will add literary and cultural depth.
Exhibitions celebrating living heritage: Three exhibitions will offer distinctive perspectives on Bhadra and Gujarat’s cultural history.
- History of Bhadra — an archival photographic exhibition at Bhadra Fort.
- RANG SMRUTI: The Living Archives of Gujarati Theatre — curated by Manvita Baradi at the Premabhai Hall foyer.
- Bhadra Unposed — an outdoor photographic installation by Vinay Panjwani.
Projection mapping on the façade of Bhadra Fort, a contemporary kinetic art installation and a visual presentation inspired by Mata ni Pachedi on the Premabhai Hall façade will further transform the precinct into an immersive artistic experience.
Teen Darwaza to resonate with musical magic
The grand concert at Teen Darwaza, beginning at 7.15 pm, promises to be one of the festival’s biggest attractions.
Ustad Fazal Qureshi on tabla will be joined by George Brooks on saxophone, Sheldon D’Silva on bass, Arun Kumar on drums and Rahul Wadhwani on keyboards, bringing together diverse musical influences.
This will be followed by a sitar recital by Ustad Shujaat Khan, accompanied by Amit Choubey and Sapan Anjaria on tabla.
The programme will be hosted by Manav Gohil.
Water Heritage: Ancient wisdom for tomorrow’s cities
If Bhadra Festival celebrates Ahmedabad’s architectural and artistic heritage, the Water Heritage Series takes the experience a step further by highlighting the enduring relevance of its traditional water systems.
The November 25 initiative will take audiences through three historic stepwells, from dawn to dusk, using music, poetry and movement to explore the relationship between architecture, water, culture and community.
The larger message is particularly relevant at a time when water conservation, urban sustainability and climate resilience have become pressing challenges.
Responding to whether music and artistic performances could help audiences rediscover Ahmedabad’s extraordinary water architecture, and whether Gujarat’s stepwell heritage could offer practical lessons for contemporary urban planners, architects and policymakers, Birwa Qureshi said:
“Certainly, it will not only help the urban planners but also all of us to understand and implement this ancient wisdom for the betterment of Amadavadis as well as all stakeholders.”
Her response underscores the larger vision of the series: heritage should not merely be admired; its accumulated wisdom must inform present-day society.
Three stepwells. Three experiences. One water legacy.
The Water Heritage Series will feature three specially curated programmes at three historic stepwells.
- VAAV SUR | JETHABHAI NI VAV | 6.30 AM
The day begins with a dawn Hindustani classical vocal recital by Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi, setting the tone for an immersive musical encounter with Ahmedabad’s water heritage.
- VAAV VARTA | AMRUTVARSHINI VAV | 11 AM
Poetry takes centre stage with Soumya Joshi and Anil Chavda, complemented by a special movement presentation by Bharatanatyam dancer Prachi Saathi.
- VAAV TARANG | DADA HARIR NI VAV | 7 PM
The grand musical finale will be led by Ustad Fazal Qureshi on tabla, bringing together Dilshad Khan on sarangi, Saskia Rao on cello, Dera Khan on kamaicha, and Khete Khan and Zakir Khan on khartal. Himali Vyas Naik will join as special guest vocalist.
The combination of classical and folk musical traditions against the evocative backdrop of historic stepwells promises an unusual cultural experience.
Heritage Conservation: Citizens must become stakeholders
Ahmedabad’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage City brings with it an important responsibility: safeguarding its architectural legacy for future generations.
However, conservation cannot remain the responsibility of government departments and heritage professionals alone. Public awareness, community participation and a sense of ownership among ordinary citizens are equally essential.
Responding to a question on how the festival proposes to make citizens active stakeholders in protecting their heritage, Birwa Qureshi said:
“By holding this festival, we create an awareness among common men to preserve these heritage monuments for the posterity.”
This is perhaps the most significant takeaway from the two initiatives. By bringing performances, exhibitions and interactive cultural experiences into historic spaces, Crraft Of Art seeks to establish an emotional connection between citizens and their city’s past.
Free entry, registration details
Both festivals are conceived and curated by Crraft Of Art with the support of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
Bhadra Festival – November 19: Entry is free. Prior registration through BookMyShow is mandatory only for Bhadra Fort and the Teen Darwaza concert. All other festival areas are freely accessible without registration. A few seats will be reserved.
Water Heritage Series – November 25: Entry is free, with prior registration mandatory. Seating at all three stepwells is limited.
Ultimately, the two festivals offer an invitation to experience Ahmedabad differently — not simply as a city of magnificent monuments, but as a living repository of artistic expression, architectural ingenuity, cultural memory and environmental wisdom.
When heritage becomes an experience rather than a distant memory, conservation begins with connection. And that may well be the most enduring legacy of Bhadra Festival and the Water Heritage Series.