Pune, 25 November 2025: The lineup for the 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, one of the most beloved classical music festivals, was announced on Monday.
This year, more than half of the participating artists will be performing on the Sawai stage for the first time. As always, the festival will showcase both renowned maestros and rising young performers.
The announcement was made by Shrinivas Joshi, Working President of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, at a press conference attended by trustees Shilpa Joshi, Shubhada Moolgund, Dr. Prabhakar Deshpande and vocalist Anand Bhate. The festival will be held from December 10 to 14 at the Maharashtriya Mandal Krida Sankul in Mukund Nagar, Pune.
Joshi said planning the festival each year is as challenging as composing a musical piece. The aim is to offer a platform to promising young artists while continuing to honour legendary performers. He added that listeners will get the chance to hear many talented newcomers this year.
Lokesh Anand (Shehnai)
Dr. Chetna Pathak (Vocal)
Ritesh and Rajneesh Mishra (Vocal Duet)
Pt. Shubhendra Rao & Saskia Rao-de-Haas (Sitar–Cello Duet)
Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar (Vocal)
Hrishikesh Badwe (Vocal)
Indrayudh Mazumdar (Sarod)
Padma Deshpande (Vocal)
George Brooks & Pt. Krishnamohan Bhatt (Saxophone–Sitar Duet)
Satyendra Solanki (Santoor)
Shrinivas Joshi (Vocal)
Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan (Sitar)
Vidushi Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (Vocal)
Siddharth Belmannu (Vocal)
Anuradha Kuber (Vocal)
Pt. Rupak Kulkarni (Flute)
Dr. Bharat Balavalli (Vocal)
Vidushi Kala Ramnath & Vidushi Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh (Violin–Chitraveena Duet)
Megharanjani Medhi (Kathak Dance)
Pt. Upendra Bhat (Vocal)
Shruti Vishwakarma-Marathe (Vocal)
Aniruddha Aital (Vocal)
Sawani Shende (Vocal)
Dr. L. Shankar (Violin)
Pt. Venkatesh Kumar (Vocal)
Pt. Upendra Bhat, Shrinivas Joshi, Anand Bhate, Viraj Joshi (Group Vocal)
The festival will conclude with “Arghya”, a Kirana gharana ensemble featuring Pandit Upendra Bhat, Shrinivas Joshi, Anand Bhate and Viraj Joshi. In earlier years, the finale was traditionally performed by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and later by Dr. Prabha Atre. After her passing, the tradition continues through her disciples and Kirana gharana vocalists.