Mahindra Sanatkada Festival

Why is in news? The lure and lore of Lucknow

The annual cultural festival celebrating the legacy of the historic city — to be held from February 3 to 7 — will feature everything from live performances and heritage/food walks to book launches and a weavers and crafts bazaar.

Held in the memory of educationist and writer Indira Mahindra, who hailed from the city, the festival showcases Lucknow’s essence.

Into its 14th edition, the event this year is themed on Raqs – o – Mausiqui, which means dance and music.

The spotlight will be on the musical and dance traditions of Awadh, the region that consists of Lucknow and adjoining areas.

Awadh is known for giving birth to the thumri and khyaal styles of music, and it is where Kathak, sozkhwani and marsiyakhwani flourished.

The festival will host several performances of indigenous musical and dance forms, apart from a well-researched, experiential exhibition on the theme.

It will also host a series of panel discussions, workshops, art installations, storytelling sessions and films on the subject with the aim of not only documenting but also reintroducing the visitors to the fabulous artistic heritage of Awadh.

Awadh:

Awadh is a historical region in northern India, now constituting the northeastern portion of Uttar Pradesh.

It is roughly synonymous with the ancient Kosala region of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain scriptures.

It was a province of all the major Islamicate dynasties in India including the Mughal Empire.

With the decline of late Mughal Delhi, Awadh became a major source of literary, artistic, religious, and architectural patronage in northern India under the rule of its eleven rulers, called Nawabs.

From 1720 to 1856, the nawabs presided over Awadh, with Ayodhya and Faizabad serving as the region's initial capitals. Later, the capital was relocated to Lucknow, which is now the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

The British conquered Awadh in 1856, which infuriated Indians and was recognised as a factor causing Indian Mutiny (1857-58), the biggest Indian uprising against British rule.