By Neha Kirpal
The 15th edition of Mahindra Sanatkada Festival will be held at Safed Baradari and Salempur House, Qaiser Bagh, Lucknow, from 2nd to 6th February, 2024. Launched in 2010, MSLF distills the essence of Lakhnavi culture in the form of this open-to-all event – aunique festival of dance, drama, film, history, literature, music and cuisine with weaves and a craft bazaar.
Using oral, visual & experiential storytelling techniques, the volunteer-based extravaganza– the only festival in the country that is modelled on the traditional Indian mela – celebrates the pluralistic, inclusive & unique traditions of Lucknow under one roof.
Every year, the festival is centred around a different theme based on Lucknow and the Awadh region.The world of the Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival this year will be themed ‘Aashiqana Lucknow’.
“Love is a lot of things for a lot of people, but is somewhere always deep down synonymous with peace. And with all that the world has been through and seen over the last few years, we could all use some love and peace,” said Madhavi Kuckreja, the founder of the festival.
“With this theme, we try to unbox ‘aashiqui’ and ‘aman’ across the city and people of Lucknow and bring to you many stories, history, music, films and conversations on what ‘aashiqui’ really is and all that it can be. #AashiqanaLucknow celebrates the two (love and peace) in all their glory, she added.
MSLF’s research is based on the Aashiqana Interview Project, in which they have spoken to more than 100 citydwellers, across ages, genders, backgrounds and various walks and schools of life.
“We tried to look at the various ideas, models and effects of aashiqui and ishq against the backdrop of Lucknow. Based on the interviews, we drew some patterns and insights that led to various sub-thematics of Aashiqana Lucknow, like Love & Peace, Roohani Ishq, Evolution of Ishq (in terms of expression, landscapes, Aashiqana Adde, Sawaariyaan and stories), the Special Marriage Act and ‘Ishq Ke Naam Pe,’” added Kuckreja.
Lucknow is a city that is aashiqana not only in its people and places but also in its stories, memories, food, art, language and cityscapes.The festival is dedicated to the memory of the late Indira Mahindra, whose contribution to the arts and culture of Lucknow has left an indelible mark on the city.
Over the 15 years of its existence, the festival has grown gradually from a footfall in the hundreds to crossing 25,000 people last year.Till date, the festival has hosted more than 500 national and international artists.
The five-day city-wide festival will feature among other things a multimedia exhibition, live performances, lectures, a crafts and weaves bazaar as well as home-cooked local food.
The festival hosts several talks and conversations – in the form of the literary ‘guftugu’, the traditional ‘Addebaazi’ and ‘Baitbaazi’ and poetry recitations – on a diverse spectrum of topics ranging from art and cinema to food and culture.
In its previous edition, 48 performances from various artforms were part of the festival.The festival’s flagship exhibition is the Weaves and Craft Bazaar, which features some of the finest handicrafts and handlooms from across the country.
This edition will feature an exemplary line-up of artists and performers, a classical vocal performance by Manjusha Patil; Dastaangoi on love by Dr Himanshu Bajpai and Dr Pragya Sharma; a solo act in ‘Nautanki Theatre’ by Avatari Devi; Punjabi folk music performance by Banat Kaur featuring celtic folk violinist Tamara; a folk performance on Kabir by Padma Shri Prahlad Singh Tipaniya jee and group; a performance by India’s first all-vocal orchestra Voctronica; Aashiqana Qisse with QissaGo Janab Mehmood Abdi ji; Talking Threads – a material and object performance by Swatantra Talim; a conversation on Queer Love by Parmesh Shahani and many more.
MSLF serves as a platform for emerging artists and photographers to feature their works through exhibits and live installations.There will bean exhibition by photographers around the idea of Love.
Apart from that, MSLF holds about 10 guided walks, which expose audiences to Lucknow’s iconic historical monuments, intricate crafts and forms like Chikankari, traditional homes and the Lakhnavi-Awadhi cuisine. Further, one of the afternoons at MSLF is dedicated to the Awadhi home-cooked food festival.
With delicacies, such as lal mirch ka qeema, mutton nihari, palak halwa and shahi tukda, the event sees a footfall of over 1,000 people.The festival also has a kids’ corner, with special programmes for children, such as puppet shows, storytelling sessions and curated tours. The festival has partnered with over 15 schools and NGOs from Lucknow.
MSLF is also a sustainable festival, as it has been producing zero waste for the last four editions by partnering with a waste management company.
