About Kinare Dariya Benares
8 November – 11 November 2024
- Devotional to Classical
- Sufi to Folk
- Thumri’s to Kathak
- Concerts and Conversations
Kinare Dariya – Benares, is the Re-discovery of Benares.
A delightful immersion into the oldest living city in the world.
A first-of-its-kind musical cruise on the holy Ganga, this is your place to discover all that is traditional, musical, and miraculous. Every stone you see tells a story. Kinare Dariya – Benares is an attempt to understand the city through its musical culture.
These three days and nights will take you far far away from your city existence into the realm of the unreal, the ancient, the spiritual and the sublime. For Benares is the Source… of our philosophy, history, beliefs, our music, our language and so much more.
The sound of the river, the ringing of the temple bells, the wail of the widow, the chanting of the priests, the call to the faithful, and the rhythm of looms all combine to produce the sound of music in Benares.
As the city has inspired singers, poets, and artists through the centuries, we have set the city as a stage for our brilliant artists to take inspiration from it. Using their supreme talent, they will combine, blend, compose and make magic happen.
Kinare Dariya – Benares is also a place to introspect, a place to reflect, a place to connect with divinity, and a place to reassess your beliefs.
Love it, hate it… you can’t ignore it. Leave the sceptic in you behind as you experience Kashi, and depart as a believer—in life, in music, in miracles.
| TIME | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 Onwards | Ramnagar Jetty | Boarding and Check in of All Passengers |
| 13:00 - 15:00 | Dining Room | Kitchens of Benares Welcome Lunch |
| 15:30 | Salon | Safety Briefing |
| 15:45 - 16:30 | Bengal Gangal | Leisure Time |
| 16:30 | Top Deck | Inaugural Session The SamavedaThe Veda of Melodies and Chants |
| 16:45 | Top Deck | The Mewati Maharaj Sanjeev Abhyankar in Concert |
| 18:45 | Top Deck | Tea and a View of the Ganga Aarti |
| 18:45 | Excursion | Ganga Aarti |
| 19:15 - 19:45 | Top Deck | Tea and Snacks |
| 19:45 Onwards | Salon | A Touch of Benares Shujaat Khan in Concert |
| TIME | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 onwards | Top Deck | Early Risers Light Bite |
| 7:00 | Bengal Ganga | Departure for Tulsi Ghat |
| 7:30 | Assembly at Tulsi Ghat | |
| 08:00 - 09:30 | Goswami Tulsidas’s Home Tulsi Ghat | The SunderKand Pandit Sajan Mishra & Swaransh Mishra |
| 10:30 | Dining Room | Breakfast |
| 12:30 | Lounge/Salon | Weaving Tales Vandana Singh and Anandana Singh |
| 13:30 | Dining Room | Aroma’s of Awadh |
| 16:30 | Top Deck | High Tea on the Ganga |
| 17:15 | Namo Ghat | Departure for Rangili Bahu ka Mahal |
| 18:15 - 19:15 | Rangili Bahu ka Mahal | An Ode to the Courtesan Barnali Chattopadyay in Concert |
| 19:15 - 20:15 | Rangili Bahu ka Mahal | An Ode to the Courtesan Sunanda Sharma in Concert Thumri |
| 20:15 - 20:45 | Rangili Cocktail Break | |
| 20:45 - 22:00 | Rangili Bahu ka Mahal | An Ode to the Courtesan Manjari Chaturvedi Sufi Kathak |
| 22:00 | Departure for Ship | |
| 22:30 | Dining Room | Ghar Ka Khaana |
| TIME | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 - 6:30 | Top Deck | Early Risers Light Bite |
| 7:30 Onwards | Top Deck / Lounge | Subah Benares Shujaat Khan’s Morning Ragas |
| 9:00 | Dining Room | Light Bite Breakfast |
| 10:45 | Depart for Brunch Venue | |
| 11:30 | Chunar Fort | Satyanaryan’s Famous Benarasi Brunch |
| 12:15 | Talk | Benares Does not like Perfection Vyomesh Shukla in Conversation |
| 13:00 | Depart for Bengal Ganga | |
| 13:30 Onwards | Bengal Ganga | Leisure Time |
| 16:30 - 17:15 | Ship Deck | High Tea on the Ganga |
| 17:30 | Bengal Ganga | Disembark for Pravah on the Ganges |
| 18:00 | Pravah on the Ganges | Gulab-bari A Celebration Of Roses Malini Awasthi in Concert |
| 20:00 | Bengal Ganga Dining Room | Eastern Delights Farewell Dinner |
| 21:45 Onwards | Top Deck | Farewell! The City of Sufi’s Pooja Gaitonde in Concert |
| TIME | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 Onwards | Top Deck | Tea/ Coffee |
| 7:00 Onwards | Dining Room | Breakfast |
Pandit Sajan Mishra
DevotionalBorn and brought up in Varanasi, Pandit Sajan Mishra has performed for over half a century. Part of the legendary Rajan-Sajan classical duo, Panditji, has been passing on the Benares Gharana legacy to generation next which includes his son, Swaransh Mishra. Having performed in temples with his brother Pandit Rajan Mishra even before he was a teenager, Pandit Sajan Mishra is part of the 300 year old lineage of Khayal singing of the Benares Gharana.
A Padma Bhushan Awardee, Pandit Sajan Mishra, will perform the Sunderkand at Goswami Tulsidas’s Home at Tulsi Ghat for Kinare Dariya – Benares.
Shujaat Khan
Sitar MaestroCharming, candid, and charismatic are the 3 C’s that describe sitar maestro Shujaat Khan. Inheritor of the legacy of sitar legend Ustaad Vilayat Khan, Shujaat is an exciting artist who has performed worldwide to adoring audiences. Uniquely capturing the nuances of the human voice on the strings of his sitar, he has carved his own special niche in the music world globally. His silky voice, combined with his brilliant instrument, makes for an exhilarating experience, always leaving his audiences spellbound and clamouring for more.
Shujaat Khan adds the touches of Benares in two special performances for Kinare Dariya – Benares.
Malini Awasthi
Folk VocalOften referred to as the folk queen, Malini Awasthi was already a popular artist before she became a ganda band shagird of the legendary Girija Devi – doyenne of the Benares Gharana. Much celebrated and acclaimed both in academics and the music world, Malini Awasthi is an artist whose stage performances exhilarate and enhance the entire musical experience. Singing in multiple languages including Awadhi, Bhojpuri, and Bundelkhandi, Malini Awasthi is a Padma Shri awardee.
At Kinare Dariya, Malini Awasthi dazzles with the recreation of Gulab-Bari, a 200-year-old tradition re-created.
Sanjeev Abhyankar
Classical VocalHailed as a child prodigy at the age of three, Sanjeev Abhyankar started his initial training under his classically trained mother, Dr Shobha Abhyankar. Realising his talent, she requested her then guru, Pandit Jasraj, to accept him as a pupil. Having been trained under the legendary maestro himself for over 10 years, he accompanied Pandit Jasraj for his concerts all over the world and learnt at his feet. Much awarded, Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar is now regarded as a foremost classical artist of the Mewati Gharana.
Marvel at his timbre at Kinare Dariya in an exclusive opening classical performance.
Sunanda Sharma
ThumriOriginally from Himachal Pradesh, Sunanda started her training under her father at a very young age. Being discovered by the legendary doyenne of the Benares Gharana, Girija Devi, at the Harballabh festival was a turning point in her life, when she moved to Benares to live and train under her guru. She has imbibed the style of her guru in classical and semi-classical genres, such as khayal, tappa, thumri, dadra, etc. Her repertoire also includes folk songs from Punjab. Trained in the true Guru Shishya Parampara, her guru continues to inspire and guide her musical journey.
Experience the talented Sunanda Sharma in an Ode to the Courtesan at a historical location at Kinare Dariya Benares.
Barnali Chattopadhyay
ThumriGifted thumri singer Barnali Chattopadhyay trained under the great musicologist Dr Kumar Prasad Mukhopadhyay of the Agra Gharana. She also sought guidance from thumri queen Shobha Gurtu and legendary thumri singer Girija Devi. More recently, the voice of Heeramandi, she has performed with classical discipline and bhav to rave reviews. Influenced by various gharanas, Barnali has developed her own style of classical and semi-classical singing, coupled with perfect classical discipline, which has earned her rave reviews. She has been performing extensively at distinguished platforms across the country as well as internationally.
We discover the power of her seductive voice at Kinare Dariya Benares in an ode to the courtesan.
Manjari Chaturvedi
Kathak DancerA leading exponent of Kathak, Manjari Chaturvedi has combined the mysticism of Sufi with classical Indian dance to create a stunning new dance form called Sufi Kathak. She was trained in the classical Kathak dance of the Lucknow Gharana and subsequently learned the nuances of other classical Indian dance forms. Manjari Chaturvedi has taken her passion for classical dance and turned it into more than mere expression: The Courtesan Project, a unique research and documentation exercise through which Manjari seeks to chronicle the historically remarkable role of the tawaif (women performers) in artistic life—as muses to poets and painters, writers and kings, musicians and leaders. In so doing, she seeks to reclaim for these maligned women the reverence due to them for their learning and their performance art; their intelligence and wit; their talent and raw sensual power.
In a unique historical location, Manjari Chaturvedi pays homage to the courtesan at Kinare Dariya Benares.
Swaransh Mishra
DevotionalSwaransh Mishra is a young, celebrated musician, songwriter, and music therapist. He is the torchbearer of the famous Benares Gharana of Indian classical music. His father-uncle duo, the late Pandit Rajan and his father Pandit Sajan Mishra, are legends in the field of Indian classical music.
As he accompanies his father for Sunderkand at Goswami Tulsidas’s house for Kinare Dariya Benares, discover the talent of this young singer.
Pooja Gaitonde
SufiPooja Gaitonde is a Ghazal and Sufi singer with a strong foothold in the traditional knowledge of Raagdari. She has trained under Ustaad Munnawar Masoom Sayeed Khan. She was also trained by the late Pandit S.C.R. Bhat of the Agra Gharana, amongst others. Her voice, her presence, and her rendition of her Ghazal and Sufi repertoire are outstanding, as are her energy and expression.
Experience this talented young singer, coming all the way from Germany for Kinare Dariya Benares.
Goswami Tulsidas’s Home, Tulsi Ghat
This house was gifted to the poet Goswami Tulsidas by Akbar, where he lived and finished the immortal Sri Ramcharitmanas. He also started the world-famous Ram Leela from here. The Hanuman image installed by Tulsidas and a piece of the boat used by him are still preserved in a small temple. It was Tulsidas who popularised the worship of Hanuman in North India and established the Sankatmochan Temple.
This 400-year-old house has been maintained by mahants since Goswami Tulsidas attained mahasamadhi in 1623 at the age of 80. The mahants are nominated by the teacher according to the guru-shishya tradition. Vishambar Ji is currently the 13th mahant of this house.
Rangili Bahu ka Mahal
Bibbo was born in 1900 in Varanasi and got trained in vocal music by Jaddanbai, the first female composer in Indian cinema. Bibbo was one of the first scholars under Jaddanbai which is why music lovers and connoisseurs to affectionately call her “Chotti Jaddanbai.”
The Raja of Ausanganj gifted her this haveli, appointing her as the Shahi Bai of his court.
Her music had a myriad colours of emotions, thus
she was popularly known as the Rangili Bahu of
Raja Ausanganj.
Chunar Fort
A 2000 year old Fort along the Ganga stands tall and proud near Varanasi . Its imposing architecture and unique location made it a coveted military base . There are stories galore of imprisoned queens , mystic saints and royal intrigue. Its stunning location and views of the Ganga make it a must visit. An apt location for a Benarasi Brunch for Kinare Dariya
Pravah on the Ganges
Pravah by the Ganges is a charming 20-acre property on the outskirts of Varanasi. Belonging to the prominent Sunbeam Group, this private Kinare Ganga property is an apt venue to re-create Gulab-Bari.
Kinare Dariya – Benares is not merely a musical adventure but an immersion into its music, its food, and its people. It is an effort to live and learn on its lifeline, the Holy Ganga, and to take a deep dive into the culture of this ancient city and its way of life. Kinare Dariya – Benares offers so much in terms of discovery into what makes this city tick.
Concerts
India’s most talented musicians present mesmerising concerts on and off the Bengal Ganga. We hear classical, semi-classical, and folk maestros present their art in unique surroundings. The locations, chosen and curated for their history, will have musicians draw inspiration and weave it into their expression. From Sanjeev Abhyankar’s Mewati magic to Shujaat Khan’s prowess with the sitar, from the story of the Tawaifs to the re-creation of the Gulab-Bari, a 250-year-old tradition, it is musical heaven.
The Conversations By Chance
Take in the early morning sunrise on the deck of the Bengal Ganga—and the city may speak to you as it wakes up. A boatman may sing, or you may just come across another guest inspired to hum or sing as you gaze together at the ghats. Sitting on the Holy Ganga in Benares can inspire many a conversation about life, joy, music, or the other world.
Who knows, you may be inspired to write, to paint, or to just sing!
Chai Pe Gaana
At nightfall, wander to the top deck where it’s time for chai, coffee, and the famous Benarasi paan. It’s your turn. Enjoy the spontaneity of another’s song, or be inspired to sing – as we anchor somewhere on the Ganga... to go on till the wee hours... or at least until the last one leaves.
Food Glorious Food!
Benares and food are one — from the mouth-watering dew soufflé Malaiyyo to the succulent jalebi fried in desi ghee... Benares is indeed a foodie’s delight. For early risers, enjoy pastry and coffee on the top deck, or there’s a sumptuous breakfast for the late risers. And then, a special Benarasi brunch catered exclusively for MuseMusic by Satyanarayan, the most famous (and somewhat reluctant) breakfast joint in the gullies of Benares.
Drop the diets. Eat!
So much to buy so little time!
Marvel at the weaving techniques of master weavers. Hear Vandana Singh’s fascinating journey through the looms. Discover the Benarasi brocades, with their countless textures and colours. Hear the true artisans—the weavers—talk about their art... and, of course, you can buy directly from the weavers.
The Sights
The sights of the Benares Ghats from the river are spectacular. The Boatman will sing and you will hear the bells of the stunning Ganga Aarti in the evening. Engage with a Deeya Seller or just simply relive the magic of the ancient. See the Ghats go by and wonder at the twinkling lights and the people who have inhabited this fascinating city for centuries.
CONTACT US
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