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Sawai Festival Defies Flight Chaos With Resilient Lineup
9 Dec
Summary
- Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav proceeds without lineup changes despite flight disruptions.
- Organizers booked artists on Air India, incurring triple airfare costs to ensure attendance.
- Alternative travel arrangements included road transport from Mumbai for some performers.
The 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav will commence as scheduled on Wednesday, with organizers successfully navigating significant air travel disruptions. Despite widespread IndiGo flight delays and cancellations, the festival's lineup remains unchanged. Organizers proactively addressed the crisis by rebooking artists on Air India, a move that nearly tripled airfare costs but ensured no performers were stranded.
To further mitigate risks, alternative travel plans were implemented. Some artists were instructed to fly into Mumbai, with arrangements made for their subsequent road journey to Pune. This strategy capitalized on Mumbai's larger airport capacity, reducing the likelihood of flight diversions compared to Pune's airport.
The festival, held at the Maharashtriya Mandal ground, promises a rich program including duets by Ritesh and Rajnish Mishra, and Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao de Haas. Other highlights include performances by L Shankar, George Brookes, Krishna Bhat, Kala Ramnath, Jayanthi Kumaresh, and various instrumentalists, culminating in a Kathak dance performance.
