Festival Experience
Kabir’s teachings are essentially about inclusiveness – and every year, the Mahindra Kabira Festival celebrates this philosophy and brings to music-lovers an unforgettable experience of listening to leading exponents of the Benares gharana and folk traditions, of Sufi music, Dadra, Thumri, Khayal gayaki styles, ghazals and pakhavaj and tabla players in an ambience redolent with history. Sessions on art and literature inspired by Kabir, specially curated walks with local residents playing gracious hosts for our guests in their explorations into the heart of this fascinating city, and delectable local cuisine are all integral parts of the Mahindra Kabira Festival experience.
Morning Music
Begin your day at Mahindra Kabira with an invigorating and a soul-cleansing Morning Music Programme, featuring Kabir veterans who will perform on Guleria Ghat in the mornings of both festival days.
Morning Music is a part of the Festival Experience and is open to all.
Evening Music
Mahindra Kabira days will end with their swashbuckling finale – get onto boats to travel to the destination of the Mahindra Kabira Evening Music Programme. Musicians will be staged on the river under the stars; let go, give in to the moment as you experience the magic of music on the banks of a timeless river, thronging with people, colour, sound and melody, redolent of a mighty past and a history of coming together of diverse cultures.
Evening Music is a part of the Festival Experience and is open to all.
The Mahindra Kabira Delegate Experience
Varanasi, with its gentle, unhurried way of life and ancient wisdom, is the perfect place to find that elusive peace which we constantly seek in the frenzy of our routine lives. The gentle rhythm of the river provides the perfect balm for frayed nerves even as Kabir’s philosophy envelopes us in its essential inclusiveness.
For two days, the Festival becomes the focal point with transcendental music on the historic ghats. As you take in the sights, you will find ash-smeared sadhus singing in deep sonorous voices, devotees milling about to bathe in and worship the eternal river, people lost in complex yoga postures, and tea stalls selling steaming kullads of chai.
Whether you come alone or with friends, you can look forward to making connections with kindred souls from around the world. Soak in the music, walk the winding alleys, hunt the bazaars for wooden toys, exquisite weaves and crafts, and spoil your taste buds with a range of sharp, tangy and sweet ‘Banarasi’ treats on the Festival menu.
Accommodation
Festival Hotels
As a Festival Delegate you get to choose from a range of our select hotels for your stay. You are free to accommodate yourselves anywhere in Varanasi, but for a wholesome experience of the Festival and the city, you can choose from the following listed hotels.
While, we recoomend these partner hotels, you are free to choose your own hotels for acocmmodation during the festival.
As part of your chosen hotel package, you will additionally receive airport transfers and transport to and from your hotel and festival venues via car and boats. This is only applicable to delegates who have booked with the festival partner hotels, as mentioned above.
