The Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam’s Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival was an extraordinary celebration of art and culture, evoking a sense of deep admiration and inspiration. The festival, held from May 3 to 10 at the BKS Diamond Jubilee Hall, began with the all-female classical band Sakhi, led by the remarkable Kaushiki Chakraborty. Their performance was not just music but a powerful statement of womanhood and artistry. The legendary mridangam artist Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman’s captivating rhythms, alongside Bharatanatyam maestro Parshwanath Upadhyay, flutist Amid Nadig, and vocalist Vinay Sharva, created magic on the second day.
The third day featured Agni 3, directed by the esteemed Soorya Krishnamoorthy, a spectacular orchestral fusion showcasing a 20-member ensemble. The next day highlighted the festival’s diversity with Faisal Al Kooheji’s mastery of the Arabic oud and Sami Al Malood’s percussive brilliance.
On the fifth day, Vijay Yesudas’ voice filled the hall with soul-stirring resonance, while the father-daughter duo of P Unnikrishnan and Uthara Unnikrishnan presented a pristine classical concert on the sixth day, delighting the audience.
The penultimate day showcased stellar dancers like Vidya Pradeep, Anitha, Priyadarshini Govind, and Vidhya Subramanian, whose performances of Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattom were mesmerizing and captivating.
The grand finale, graced by the iconic violinist Dr. L Subrahmaniam, was a fitting conclusion to a festival celebrating the best of India and Bahrain’s shared cultural heritage. The presence of distinguished guests such as Indian Ambassador Vinod K Jacob, Government Hospitals chief executive Dr. Maryam Al Jalahma, Social Development Ministry Under-Secretary Sara Al Mannai, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority advisor Dr. Ali Follad, Foreign Affairs Ministry Counsellor at the Ministers Office Jassim Biljeek, NCC Director Zainab Al Nasheet, and Justice Devan Ramachandran added to the festival’s prestige. Kudos to Team BKS led by P.V. Radhakrishna and Karakkal Varghese.
