‘Smriti 2025’: A Kathak homage to Pandit Shambhu Maharaj

A tribute evening marking the 118th birth anniversary of Kathak legend Padma Shri Pandit Shambhu Maharaj will be held in the Capital on November 18, featuring performances, an exhibition, and the launch of a new award recognising excellence in Indian classical arts.

The programme, titled Smriti 2025, has been organised by Dhwani, a Kathak institution led by dancer and choreographer Vaswati Misra. The event will take place at the Meghdoot Amphitheatre in Rabindra Bhawan, and also coincides with Dhwani’s Foundation Day.

A key highlight of the evening will be the inauguration of the Pandit Shambhu Maharaj Smriti Puraskar, an annual award introduced by Dhwani this year. Its first recipients are Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, honoured for his decades-long contribution to Hindustani classical music, and Kathak guru Dr. Maya Rao, who will be recognised posthumously for her work in dance education and choreography.

The evening will open with a photo exhibition tracing Shambhu Maharaj’s life and artistic journey, followed by an audio-visual presentation. Performances include a repertory piece by Dhwani, a Kathak duet by Ipshita Misra — Shambhu Maharaj’s granddaughter — and Daniel Freddy, and a sitar recital by Ustad Shahid Parvez, accompanied by Ustad Akram Khan on tabla.

Senior officials from Delhi’s Art and Culture Department are expected to attend. Invitations have also been extended to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta; their confirmation is awaited.

Vaswati Misra, a disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj and one of the leading representatives of the Lucknow gharana, said the award reflects a long-standing need to recognise artists who embody the values Shambhu Maharaj stood for.

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Founded in 1984, Dhwani has been active in both performance and training, and has toured internationally with thematic work based on the Kathak tradition. The launch of the Smriti Puraskar, Misra said, marks an important step in expanding the organisation’s cultural engagement beyond the stage.

Smriti 2025 is scheduled to begin at 6.30 PM and will be open to audiences by invitation.

When: November 18

Where: Meghdoot Amphitheatre, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi