On the evening of the full moon in the month of Ashwin (28 October), Aucklanders had the pleasure of celebrating Sharad Purnima, also known as ‘Kojagiri’. This special night, following the harvest season, is dedicated to sharing the fruits of labour and enjoying a delightful concoction of dry fruit and milk called ‘masala doodh’.
Accompanied by music, these festivities traditionally extend late into the night. Aucklanders were treated to an evening of classical music with a twist, courtesy of the Migrant Heritage Charitable Trust (MigHT-I) at the Freeman’s Bay Community Centre. Aptly titled “Chandane Shimpit Ja,” Marathi for “let there be a shower of light by the stars,” featured talented singers and musicians from India.
Renowned vocalists Aparna Gurav and Hemant Pendse graced the stage, accompanied by Milind Gurav on Tabla and Pramod Marathe on the harmonium. The evening commenced in the traditional manner of Indian Classical music concerts, with raag Dhanakoni presented by Pendse. Having received two decades of rigorous training under the maestro Pt Jitendra Abhisheki, his performance showcased his mastery of the raag and its subtleties, including the drut bandish “dekh chanda” following the elaboration of the raag in “Saras sur garo.”
This presentation of an unconventional raag, Dhanakoni, was a commendable departure from the norm for the Auckland audiences. Aparna Gurav followed, rendering the timeless raag Malkauns. Keeping in line with the theme “Birajat chandrama,” she performed a drut bandish “nabh nikas gayo” and concluded with a fast-paced tarana, a hallmark of her guru Vidushi Veena Shashtrabuddhe. This first half of the concert was a genuine exposition of classical music, a rarity in NZ.
The challenge for the second half was to maintain the theme while presenting a variety of musical forms within the semi-classical genre, including bhajan, bhavgeet, sugam sangeet, natya sangeet, and bhaktigeet. Pramod Marathi showcased the art of the solo harmonium in raag Kirwani, exhibiting nimble finger work under the extremely fast movements of the raag, which was a treat for the ears.
Aparna Gurav and Pendse alternated between different genres, supported by Milind and Marathe. Pramod Niphadkar added a diverse range of percussion instruments to the ensemble. Pendse’s soulful rendition of bhajans and the rare presentation of “Chedun gele Madhur swar” captivated the audience. On the other side, Gurav’s powerful renditions of songs like “de mala ga chandrike” and the title piece “chandane shimpit ja” (both originally sung by Asha Bhosale) showcased her versatility in the bhaktisangeet genre. The highlight of the evening was her powerful performance of “He surano chandra vha.”
The grand finale featured a duet presentation of Bhairavi, the popular “Kaivalyachya Chandanyala.” The second half was masterfully narrated by Varsha Belwalkar, seamlessly connecting the songs and their themes.
MigHT-I has consistently kept the spirit of ‘Kojagiri’ alive and thriving in New Zealand, in the pursuit of promoting Hindustani Classical music. Their dedication to bringing high-quality performers to Auckland audiences is a testament to their commitment. The hope is that these talented artists will continue to grace Auckland with their exceptional performances in the future, providing more opportunities for audiences to savour their artistry.
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