The Mahindra Kabira Festival returns to the ghats of Varanasi, bringing with it soulful music, invigorating conversations, tranquil boat-rides, trails through the history-steeped city, visits to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, captivating art. All of this is set against the backdrop of the sacred Ganga that shimmers in the morning under the sun and glows with the moon at nightfall.
 

The festival is defined by its magical musical offerings, which form its heart and soul. With morning and evening performances, at the Guleria Kothi and Shivala Ghat respectively, these performances reflect the festival's connection to Kabir and his ideas, with artists drawing inspiration from his poetry and philosophy to create diverse and meaningful sets.
 

A Carnatic Quartet conceptualised by Shreya Devnath, will bring together the violin, nagaswaram, mridangam, and thavil in a unique confluence of distinct instrumental art forms. ACQ’s repertoire explores themes of nature and spirituality through Carnatic and semi-classical compositions. Then there will be the Mehfil, led by Anadi Nagar and his ensemble of four thespians who are influenced by the works of Kabir, Muktibodh, and Nagarjuna, as well as themes of love, joy, and life. As they describe it themselves, their core is defined by “Kabir’s Nirgundhara – an ode to the formless, unorthodox, and the uncustomary.”
 

Mornings at the 18th-century river-front house, Guleria Kothi, will feature talents such as Yusra Naqvi, a vocalist and instrumentalist with a rich background in Hindustani classical music; Sarvatara, a dynamic ensemble led by Himanshu Mishra, blending genres like Sufi, semi-classical fusion, and indie folk, with their current project Kahat Kabeer drawing inspiration from the verses of Kabir; acclaimed sitarist and surbahar player from the Benaras Gharana, Deobrat Mishra; and Mithaavin, a Mumbai-based fusion band that seamlessly blends the intricate rhythms of Indian classical music with the free-flowing harmonies of jazz, whose performance entitled Kabir is a tribute to the poet.
 

The Shivala Ghat, a 19th-century religious tribute to Shiva by Balwant Singh, will host the evening performances. Audiences will be moved by Madhup & Sawani Mudgal’s Kabir Baani, dazzled by Advaita’s fusion of Indian classical, rock, jazz, and electronic sounds, and mesmerised by Fakira’s unique blend of Bengali folk and Kabir’s poetry. There will be the spectacular Thaikkudam Bridge, captivating audiences with their genre-spanning mix of folk, classical, and electronic textures, offering a performance sure to engage and impress.
 

But music is not all that this festival offers! The afternoon sessions promise a wealth of enriching conversations featuring topmost thinkers and speakers. Among them is writer and professor Purushottam Agrawal, renowned for his interpretation of Kabir through chequered lenses. His ongoing exploration of the mystic-saint’s timeless words seeks to uncover the many layers and worlds they embody. There will also be the distinguished CERN scientist Archana Sharma, a trailblazer in the field of physics. Having authored multiple papers and books on the sciences, at the Mahindra Kabira Festival, she is coming to present her latest work—a multilingual coffee table book co-authored with Anil Sharma and Rajesh K. Singh. This publication weaves together breathtaking photography, poetry, and prose in English, Hindi, and Sanskrit to celebrate the spirit of Varanasi. Inspired by her time at Banaras Hindu University, the book is a sublime ode to the essence of one of the world’s oldest and most sacred cities.
 

An unmissable afternoon segment will be Dastan-e-Kabir, a compelling dastangoi performance that will bring to life the mysticism, poetry, and timeless ideas of Kabir. Known for their dramatic and versified storytelling, Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya Sharma will take us through the many journeys Kabir undertook during his lifetime and the various anchors he left for generations to hold on to even centuries later.
 

As in previous years, the heritage trail continues to be an experience deeply cherished by Delegates. Expertly led by the city’s passionate chroniclers, these walks wind through Varanasi’s narrow, storied lanes, shedding light on its countless histories. Beginning at the Guleria Kothi, the trail includes the Panchganga Ghat, a site eternally linked with Kabir’s spiritual awakening since it is believed to be where he was initiated by Swami Ramanand. Delegates will also visit Vishnu’s Kashi abode, the Bindu Madhav Temple, and the Gopal Mandir. The trail further includes Alamgir’s Mosque and offers a glimpse of the glittering Lion’s Mansion, the Sherwali Kothi of the Thatteri Bazaar. As a part of the Temple Visit, Delegates also get the chance to have darshan of the Shri Kashi Vishawanath Temple.
 

Since last year, when the iconic artist Paresh Maity arrived at the festival with his canvas and brushes and completed one of the most evocative paintings as an ode to Varanasi, the live art segment has become one of the most anticipated offerings. This year’s art-piece will be created by the Aravani Art Project, a collective led by trans & cis women, focused on reclaiming spaces through various art initiatives. The collective has previously collaborated with Soho House Mumbai to design murals on a Juhu beach wall, symbolising the local community and raising awareness about sustainability. At the National Law School in Bengaluru, they created a wall painting on ‘Equality and Pride’ and have worked on similar impactful projects across India.
 

With songs that stir the soul, stories that inspire, and art that connects hearts, Mahindra Kabira Festival, in its 8th edition too, is going to be a magnificent celebration of Kabir in Every Sense!