Navaratri is traditionally one of India’s major Hindu festivals, a time to see family and friends, enjoy music and dance, and seek blessings for new endeavors. Wesleyan’s 48th annual festival is held in the same spirit of celebration, offering audiences a chance to experience the diversity of music and dance from India and across South Asia.

Schedule Of Events:

October 10, 2024

4:30pm - K. S. Subramanian: “Vina in Voice in Vina”

The 48th annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan will begin with a Music Department Colloquium talk presented by K. S. Subramanian.

Vina is a historic name in India, a national instrument. But a recent evolution into the current form has brought a different perspective to the raga classification through a scheme of 72 melas attributed to Venkatamakhi (fl.c 1630). A raga is a pattern of notes used as a basis for improvisation, while a mela is a scale. Technically it is called ‘Saraswathi Vina.’ In the performance parlance it is just called vina.

In this colloquium, Subramanian will be presenting a perspective on vina, as a vina (large plucked string instrument) player, still toiling with ideas of improving upon its use in different platforms as its chances of concert platform appearances have dwindled greatly. Although the reasons for such a state can be pointed out by scholars, what Subramanian intends highlighting here are: 1. observations and experiments in using this instrument to its full advantage, through a fretting system they have devised to adhere to the just intonation, with minor adjustments to bring to a state of accuracy in the tonal positioning of the 24 frets, resulting in octaval unity. 2. The techniques in playing vina to go beyond the stylistic boundaries to make use of this instrument to its full potential, contextually relevant. 3. The concepts of vina in voice and voice in vina, meaning a metaphorical interplay of vina in the body, akin to the ‘chakras’ (centers of spiritual power in the human body) from the point of view of yoga and the vina characteristics in singing voice.

Cost: Free

Location: Adzenyah Rehearsal Hall, Room 003 (Daltry Room), 60 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

October 11, 2024

7:00pm - B. Balasubrahmaniyan: Vocal Music of South India

Vocalist B. Balasubrahmaniyan is joined by David Nelson PhD ’91 on mridangam (double-headed drum) for their 20th annual Navaratri Festival concert together. Both are Adjunct Associate Professors of Music and Global South Asian Studies. They will be joined by violinist Shri. V.V.S. Murari, and Shri. K.V. Gopalakrishnan on kanjira (frame drum).

Cost: $12 general public; $10 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; Free for Wesleyan students and youth under 18.

Location: Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459.

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October 12, 2024

2:15pm - Saraswati Puja [New Time]
Saraswati Puja is a Hindu ceremony that marks the most auspicious day of the year for beginning new endeavors. Open to all, this service is led by Joseph Getter MA ’99 and invites audiences to participate to bring instruments, manuscripts, and other items associated with learning, creativity, and knowledge–making for blessing.

Cost: Free
Location: World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave, Middletown CT 06459

3:00pm - Indian Dance Showcase
Connecticut-based choreographers Sarada Nori and Rachna Agrawal will be joined by Wesleyan students Akhil Joondeph '26 and Tanvi Navile '25 to showcase short performances from a range of different classical dance styles, including North Indian Kathak, South Indian Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam, and Odissi from Eastern India. The performance will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Hari Krishnan, Professor of Dance, Global South Asian Studies, and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Cost: Free admission.

Location: World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave, Middletown CT 06459.

4:15pm - Tea and Samosa with Shakti
Enjoy South Asian cuisine and gather with friends around a sampling of samosa (savory fried pastry) and tea, hosted by Shakti, Wesleyan’s South Asian Students’ Association.

Cost: Free

Location: World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave, Middletown CT 06459.

5:00pm - A History of Navaratri at Wesleyan
This panel discussion will focus on the history of the Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan, convened and moderated by graduate music student Hansini Bhasker.

Cost: Free

Location: World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave, Middletown CT 06459.

8:00pm - V.V. Subrahmanyam: Violin Concert

One of the finest violinists in classical Karnatak (South Indian) music, Shri. V.V. Subrahmanyam returns to campus for his 80th anniversary concert, joined by fellow violinist Shri. V.V.S. Murari, Shri. Trichy Sankaran on mridangam (double-headed drum), Shri. K.V. Gopalakrishnan on kanjira (frame drum), and Smt. Banu Jaiganesh on tampura (four-stringed harmonic instrument).

Cost: $20 general public; $15 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; Free for Wesleyan students and youth under 18.

Location: Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459.

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Navaratri Festival Subscription

Subscribe and Save 30%

Navaratri Festival Subscription packages include both ticketed performances. For more information please visit the Wesleyan University Box Office.

- Free for Wesleyan students and anyone under age 18
- $17.50 for senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, and non-Wesleyan students
- $22 for the general public

Offer ends on Friday, October 11, 2024 at 7pm.

Date: October 10-12, 2024

Location: Various Venues in Middletown, CT 06459

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