The annual Water Festival returns on November 24 to “celebrate monuments with music”.

In the world of Coldplay and pop concert hype, Gen Z can relish classical, semi-classical and fusion music at the well-lit Adalaj Ni Vav. Speaking to Gujarat Samachar Digital, Birwa Qureshi, founder, and artistic director of Crraft of Art, says, “We will continue to build our connection with the younger generation. However we all feel that there is a little disconnect between the heritage and the Gen Zs.”

She went on to say that to ‘bridge this gap’ we need to make it ‘relevant’ to the younger generation. 

“The idea is to make it relevant and cater to the larger audience, so that they can get inspiration from their past rather than living in the past,” she added addressing Gujarat Samachar Digital at the presser.

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The festival, having a broader theme of ‘Drums of India’, will come alive with the harmony of traditional rhythms and the ambience of architectural marvel – Adalaj Ni Vav once again highlighting Crraft of Art’s commitment to ‘Celebrating Monuments with Music’.

With the same zeal for the past 15 years, Birwa, Bharatanatyam and folk dancer and founder of the festival is reintroducing India’s historic landmarks to a modern audience, particularly engaging younger generations.

Like tabla maestro Fazal Qureshi said in an earlier interview with Gujarat Samachar Digital, “We want people to see these heritage monuments with a new perspective. People often visit these heritage sites, but rarely do they behold and realise how minutely detailing the architecture is. This is our little bit for these heritage sites.”  

The event is back with a new element of ‘dance’ and ‘Dhol Tasha’.

The evening will also feature performances by the Veergarjana Dhol Tashe Pathak and the Purulia Chhau Dance Academy. Sandhya Mridul, celebrated for her presence across television, film, and theatre, will host the event, adding her unique charm to the festival.

“I have been around art my whole life, be it as a design student at Ahmedabad’s CEPT, as a folk dancer, marrying a tabla maestro,” says Birwa.

She says, “It is the passion for beholding art in a contemporary way which has driven me to organise the Water Festival for 15 years without a break."

Also read:

Water Festival 2023: Where heritage meets music