International spiritual film festival begins in Kashi

Four spiritual films— Had Anhad, The Buddha, Identity and Redha were screened on the first day of International Spiritual Film Festival India in Varanasi on Friday. Sankatmochan Temple’s chief priest Vishambhar Nath Mishra and ISFFI president Dr DR Karthikeyan inaugurated the three-day event at Hotel Taj here.

The spiritual city will host a ‘mahakumbh’ of music ‘Sur Ganga’-The music carnival from April 18 to May 30 to celebrate the ‘city of music tag’ given to Varanasi by UNESCO over a year ago. The event will see a series of performances by noted classical music doyens from across the nation. Varanasi joined UNESCO Creative Cities Network as ‘city of music’ in November 2015.

The event is an initiative Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN). It has nominated non government organisation (NGO) Pahal to make arrangements for the mega event. The music ‘mahakumbh’ will include music junction, symphony, Ustad Bismillah Khan Pavilion, Saint Kabir pavilion, Pt Ravi Shankar pavilion, Pt Kanthe Maharaj pavilion and Sitara Devi pavilion, musical confluence and beating the retreat.

Noted classical artistes will pay musical tributes to the legends by playing instruments. The first pavilion is scheduled at Bhainsasur Ghat and second one at Nagari Natak Mandali auditorium. Likewise, other pavilions will take place at Nagar Nigam Auditorium, Anglo Bengali Inter College pavilion and one at BHU respectively, event convener Alok Parikh, president of Pahal, said. A studio has also been planned for recording of the music. Exhibitions titled ‘Music Gallery’ will showcase pictures of the legend, music instruments. Varanasi mayor Ram Gopal Mohale said, “Varanasi has become part of UNESCO creative city network more than a year ago. UNESCO chose it as ‘city of music.’ It is a matter of great honour and joy for all of us. Therefore, we have decided to celebrate the success in a grand manner.”