Ashadi Ekhadasi Festival at Prashanthi Nilayam photos

Prasanthi Nilayam: The two-day Ashadi Ekadashi festivity by the twin States of Maharashtra and Goa concluded this evening marked by a soul-stirring Hindustani concert by renowned Pandita Padmaja Talwalkar from Pune.

Singing in her simplistic fashion, from a heart full of devotion, Ms Padmaja kept the audience spellbound for over 50 minutes with her precisely perfect rendition. The accomplished artist started off with a "Bhajana Vin Sarey Din Gele..." and flowed on to sing "Guru Bin Kaun Batave Baat" followed by "Natha Ghari Nache Maza Sakha Panduraga..." to conclude with an infectious 'Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari', a rhyme ever synonymous with Ashadi Ekadashi.

Ms Padma was accompanied by Ms Yaswasree Sarpotdar on vocal support, Sarvasree Ravindra Yadgar on Tabla, Vyasmurthi Katti on Harmonium, Govinda Bellari on Pakhwaj.

Earlier, the session started with a burst of poetic rendition by Smt Sangeeta Joshi from Pune, a gushing feeling that emerged out of pure inspiration after watching the most exciting Violin concert in the morning by Pt Milind Raikar and Team. The rendition was titled "Violin" and was rendered in Hindi. This was followed by a most mellifluous Ashadi Theme Song by accomplished singer Sri Raviraj Nasrey who sang "Ashadi Ashadi Ashadi Aayi Hey...".

Bhajans continued and the session ended with Mangala Arathi at 1820 hrs.