Festival Details

Aadi – the beginning, Anant – the timeless, the eternal, the one that has no end…

In the incessant voyage of the Universe, the time (kaal) is like an eternal river. Likewise, in the Indian philosophy the soul is regarded as timeless, indestructible and eternal, while the life as we know, is ephemeral. It is interesting that the concept of time is seen as a cyclic entity, and is also closely associated with act of creation. In Tantric Buddhism too, the concept of an endless cycle of time (kaalchakra) expresses the idea of a never-ending cycle of not only existence but also knowledge.

While artistes are born and fade way in time, their creations live on as a precious cultural legacy. Hence, in the domain of Indian arts, notion of ‘eternity’ could have a dual expression.

On one hand, artistic traditions are perpetuated from one generation to the next in an uninterrupted manner through the age-old institution of Guru (mentor) and shishya (disciple). In the eternal stream of time and knowledge, Guru-s groom shishya-s, who in turn don the mantle of Guru and the cycle thus continues…

On the other hand, every generation witnesses rise of creative minds, who strive to push the boundaries of tradition in pursuit of exploring new horizons. Such creative process ushers in changes in the tradition, which are carried forward, thus helping to redefine and rejuvenate traditions, and safeguard their survival for posterity.

In fact, these aspects have enabled Indian music to evolve through a span of 3500 years despite many odds, making it the oldest surviving music tradition in the world today.

As trendsetters in their respective fields, CITI and NCPA stand committed to preserve and propagate the Indian heritage. Together, we are proud to present the sixth edition of ‘CITI-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival’ across six cities: Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

The festival showcases celebrated Guru-s with their shishya-s as a testimony to the perpetuation of tradition. We will also feature works that are deeply rooted in the tradition, and yet seek to delve in to the infinite realms of creativity, inspired by the changing socio – cultural milieu in which next generation of artistes are being groomed.

Come and join us on this sonic journey from here to eternity!