Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café performed a short set of their songs for a select gathering at the Mahindra and Mahindra Centre in Mumbai. The preview had a round table conversation on "Kabir: An inspiration & a muse for young musician" by Jay Shah (Vice President and Cultural Outreach Head, Mahindra Group) in -conversation with singer Harpreet and  Neeraj Arya's Kabir Cafe. 

With just about two weeks to got for the 4th Mahindra Kabira Festival in Varnasi the evening brought together singer Harpreet who is a singer in his own right and also performs with a band in Delhi.

Talking about the Festival, Jay Shah, Vice President and Head – Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group, said, “In this the 4th edition of the Mahindra Kabira Festival we are delighted to present Kabir‟s verses in diverse styles through various artists and programs. Music, food, heritage walks and literature sessions will punctuate this enlightening weekend in Varanasi. With a combination of local artists and nationally acclaimed musicians, the attendee will be immersed in an environment of virtuosity and spirituality. The core values of the Mahindra Group resonate in the ideas of Kabir and we are proud to be able to celebrate him through this festival.”

Varanasi, the birthplace of legendary 15th-century mystic – Kabir - unparalleled for its unique ambience, soul and history, will once again play host to the Mahindra Kabira Festival, to be held from the 22nd -24th of November 2019. Acclaimed and gifted artistes will make the iconic ghats of Varanasi reverberate with sublime music celebrating the works of the poet and saint Kabir at both sunrise and sunset.

Delegates at the Festival can enjoy Afternoon Literature Sessions at Guleria Ghat and curated„ Heritage Walks through the ancient alleys of Varanasi. Conceived by the Mahindra Group and pioneering performing arts and entertainment company, Teamwork Arts, the fourth edition of the Festival will feature a rich, two-day program highlighting fascinating aspects of Kabir‟s philosophy as well as the city of his birth through music, discourse, walks, boat rides and local cuisine.

On the first day at Guleria Ghat at Morning Music, audiences will awaken to uplifting musical performances by renowned sitar-player Neeraj Mishra and Delhi-based Hindustani classical vocalist Ujwal Nagar. Talented and innovative flutist Rakesh Kumar will collaborate with Indian classical violinist Sarada Prasan Das for a unique recital on the second morning of the celebratory Festival. Renowned Kabir-panthi Shabnam Virmani and musician Swagath Sivakumar will also perform on the same morning with an exploration of the challenge of love in the voice of Kabir and other mystics, through folk songs.

The Evening Music program, a Flute Symphony, is a cross-genre flute medley which experiments with the sounds of the wind by Pt. Ajay Shankar Prasanna. Ustad Kamal Sabri from the Ustad Imamuddin Khan Dagar India Music and Culture Society, the Dagar Archives, Jaipur, will present the poetry of the enigmatic saint as well as Indian classical ragas through his sarangi.

The Mahindra Kabira Festival 2019 will witness a spectacular and electrifying collaboration between neo-folk fusion band Kabir Café and Mooralala, a Sufi folk singer from the Janana village of Kutch in Gujarat. Evening Music will also feature the distinct flavours of an ancient tradition: Vaani (songs of the mystics), from Bikaner by Omprakash Nayak.

Afternoon Literature Sessions at Guleria Ghat will feature a discourse on whether there can be a rational spirituality and if Kabir helps us articulate it, by writer, academic and novelist Purushottam Agrawal.

Mumbai based Jashn-E-Qalam, will bring alive two timeless folktales with enchanting solo performances, celebrating the complexity and richness of Kabir through the wit and wisdom of the inimitable folklorist.

Specially guided Heritage Walks, curated by Ajay Pandey and Navneet Raman from Banaras Cultural Foundation, will have delegates embark on a journey to experience Kabir and understand the beauty of the landscape he dwelt in, which will make them let go of prejudices and embrace a love for the unknown as they traverse the narrow lanes of historic Varanasi.

Due to the Festival‟s continued sustainability initiatives during its past editions, the Mahindra Kabira Festival has received a Platinum Level Green Event Certification from the University of Yale in previous years. The Festival spreads the philosophy of a clean environment, preservation and sustainability through cleanliness in thought and deed. Apart from segregating waste and avoiding the use of plastic, it has ensured that sustainability and Green practices have been ingrained within it right from curation to execution.

The Festival will also collaborate with Unity Earth, an international organisation on a mission to accelerate the realisation of unity and peace on earth. In a special collaboration, musicians Pato Banton, Antoinette Rootsdawtah and Kirstan Hoffmann, will present a special set on the Festival stage this year.

While attendance to certain events like Morning and Evening Music across the two days is free and open to all, the Festival has in store customised Delegate Packageswhich offer a curated experience. These meticulously planned one and two-day packages are an opportunity to live out the history of one of the world‟s oldest cities and its powerful character while coming close to understanding Kabir‟s essentially syncretic path of life. Delegates also have an option to choose from a range of designated Festival Hotels to stay at during their visit.

Date: 22nd – 24th November 2019

General Entry: Free registration for the Morning and Evening Musical Performances

Delegate Entry: One-day (INR 13,000) and two-day (INR 25,000) Delegate Packages for a one-of-a-kind Festival experience.

Accommodation Package: Hotel packages offer a wide range of choices.

Note: Accommodation packages mandate the additional purchase of the two-day Delegate Package (one package per person) since all hotel stays come with a 2-day, 3-night booking duration. Starting from Rs. 20,000/- for 3 nights and 2 days and going up to Rs. 1, 46,000/-, these cover select hotels across the city.