The grand and royal journey of “Three Decades of Virasat” — the center of attraction for years — came to an end.
On the closing day today, thousands of guests at Virasat swayed to the mesmerizing Kathak dance of the famous dancer Nayanika Ghosh and the soulful songs of renowned singer, actor, politician, and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari.
The REACH organization’s festival once again became a treasure chest of priceless heritage and culture.
Today’s closing evening of the Virasat Festival was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by Mrs. Savita Kapoor, MLA of Cantt Assembly Constituency.
Dehradun – The 15-day journey of the Virasat Festival was captured in unforgettable moments, filled with the splendid performances of world-famous and royal artists of Indian classical music. Every year, the REACH organization hosts this festival at ONGC’s Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, and this year marked the completion of its glorious and royal three decades.
Like every year, this time too, renowned artists from India and abroad — who have raised India’s name high in the world of Indian classical music — gave magnificent and captivating performances, adding glory to Virasat. On the final day of this year’s festival, the main highlight was the emotional farewell. Many eyes turned moist, and several guests were visibly moved as they bid goodbye to the royal Virasat.
On Saturday, the festival was abuzz with guests celebrating Dhanteras, and people also shopped enthusiastically for Diwali.
On the final day, Virasat was full of life and color. At the closing ceremony, the famous Kathak dancer Nayanika Ghosh decorated the evening with her graceful dance compositions, Kathak dancer Naynika Ghosh was accompanied by Shubh Maharaj on the tabla, while Zaki Ahmed provided vocals, Lavanya Kumar on the sitar and Manyak Bhattacharya on the padhant. While celebrated singer and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari made the audience sway to his songs. Thousands of guests celebrated the festival’s last evening with great joy.
Kathak dancer, teacher, and choreographer Nayanika Ghosh is known for her unique style and deep passion for Indian classical dance. She began her Kathak journey at the age of five under the guidance of Smt. Rani Karna, Pt. Vijay Shankar, and Pt. Chitresh Das, and later trained under the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj.
Her artistic versatility is evident in her exploration of contemporary, jazz, and ballet styles. Academically, Nayanika holds a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Calcutta and a Master’s in Dance from Rabindra Bharati University. She is currently pursuing a PhD.
She has received many prestigious awards and has represented India at several major festivals both nationally and internationally. Her choreography blends traditional and modern dance styles. Nayanika Ghosh is also the Founder-Director of Ninaad Foundation, which aims to nurture and promote Indian classical dance and music, with centers in Kolkata and Gurugram.
In the royal evening of Virasat Festival, on its final day, the famous actor, Bhojpuri singer, politician, and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari lit up the stage with his energetic musical performances. A total of nine talented artists, including singers and accompanists, participated in the evening of songs and music by famous Bhojpuri singer, actor, politician and MP Manoj Tiwari. They gave a lively and melodious performance. Among the singers, Manoj Tiwari Mridul was accompanied by Divendra Maharaj and Srishti Sinha. While the accompanists were Deepak Singh on tabla, Moti Lal Sharma on dholak, Shankar Verma on banjo, Kishore Vats on keyboard, Deepak Parashar on octapad and Prabhunath Rai Darhi on percussion/prakashan.
Manoj Tiwari is a popular figure in both the entertainment industry and Indian politics, known for his versatile contributions as a singer, actor, and leader. He first gained wide recognition through his Bhojpuri music, which paved the way for his acting career in several Bhojpuri films, significantly contributing to the growth of the Bhojpuri film industry.
With his natural charm and talent for entertainment, Tiwari’s performances have deeply connected with audiences, leaving a lasting impact on Indian culture — especially in northern India, where his songs and films became a cultural phenomenon. Transitioning from entertainment to politics, Manoj Tiwari has also served as a Member of Parliament and continues to represent his constituency in the Lok Sabha.
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