Ahmedabad witnessed a night of profound musical devotion as the Saptak Annual Music Festival entered its seventh day. Defying the late hour on a Wednesday, dedicated rasikas gathered, their anticipation as finely tuned as the instruments on stage. Their patience was richly rewarded with a performance by sitar maestro Shahid Parvez that will be remembered for its sheer emotional depth and technical brilliance.
A Late-Night Rendezvous with Raga Jogeshwari
The clock neared midnight on Wednesday when Shahid Parvez began his exploration of Raga Jogeshwari. The opening aalaap emerged not as a sound, but as a whisper from his sitar, its delicate tones trembling in the hushed atmosphere before dissolving into silence. The audience, committed to the journey, listened with rapt attention, creating an environment where one could hear not just a pin drop, but its very flight through the air. This shared focus between artist and listener set the stage for an unforgettable musical experience.
A Seamless Symphony: Sitar and Tabla in Unison
As Parvez delved deeper into the raga, he was joined by the esteemed tabla maestro Akram Khan. Together, they approached the music with the reverence of guardians protecting a priceless heritage. Parvez masterfully navigated the jod, the section bridging the contemplative aalaap and the energetic climax. His touch was so light and intuitive that the transition felt as natural and inevitable as the deepening dusk giving way to a starry night.
A Climax of Celestial Ecstasy
The culmination of the performance was nothing short of spectacular. The duo built the tempo and intensity to a breathtaking peak. The final passages evoked the imagery of stars shooting rays of light in pure ecstasy, moving at a cosmic speed that can be felt in the soul rather than seen by the eye. This powerful finale at the Saptak festival served as a testament to the timeless beauty and emotional power of Indian classical music, leaving the Ahmedabad audience in a state of awe long after the last note had faded.
