Bolava Vitthal: India's Longest Devotional Music Fest

For 21 years, Bolava Vitthal has been a prominent celebration of Maharashtra's devotional music tradition. The festival, founded by Pancham Nishad, is returning to Mumbai this weekend. It originated from a single Ashadhi Ekadashi concert following a suggestion by the late classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar.

The annual festival has expanded its reach, travelling to over 35 cities across India. This year's edition will showcase vocalists Devaki Pandit, Anand Bhate, Aarya Ambekar, and Siddhartha Belmannu. They will perform abhangs composed by revered saint-poets such as Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, and Sant Janabai.

Founder Shashi Vyas stated that the festival's vision was to raise awareness about the wisdom of India's saint-poets. Initially focusing on Maharashtra's Abhangwani, it has broadened to include Karnataka's Daswani, bridging regional devotional literary traditions.

Artistes involved describe the festival as a profound emotional and devotional experience. They highlight the timeless nature of the saints' poetry and its ability to connect with audiences across generations. The accompanying musicians include Yashwant Vaishnav, Tanay Rege, Aditya Oke, Sukhad Munde, Sunil Awchat, and Suryakant Surve.