New Delhi: Celebrating over five decades of Kathak pedagogy by Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan, and witnessing the release of her biography, ASAVARI’s Continuing Tradition 2025, was held this week at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
Marking a memorable celebration of legacy, gratitude, and artistic continuity, the evening also paid tributes to the legendary music composers, late Pandit Jwala Prasad and Pandit Madho Prasad, and was attended by scholars and members of the cultural fraternity.
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Guru Shovana Narayan with students and members of the cultural fraternity.
The release of Guru Shovana Narayan’s biography, ‘I Am a Fleeting Moment in Time’, was followed by a panel discussion, thoughtfully moderated by Vinita Dawra Nangia. It offered audiences rare insights into Guruji’s artistic journey, philosophy, and was met with keen engagement from the audience.
Reflecting on the evening, Guru Shovana Narayan shared, “The warmth and attentiveness of the audience reaffirmed my faith in the strength of our traditions. To witness my gurus remembered with such reverence and my disciples perform with such sincerity is deeply humbling.”
Distinguished guests included Ambassador K Nandini Singla, Director General, ICCR; K Satish Nambudiripad, Director General, Doordarshan; and Prof K G Suresh, Director, India Habitat Centre. Their presence added stature to the occasion and reaffirmed the significance of sustaining India’s classical arts.
The second half of the evening featured the sixth edition of Continuing Tradition, where senior disciples of Guru Shovana Narayan presented selected compositions of Pandit Jwala Prasad and Pandit Madho Prasad. Their nuanced and deeply internalized performances were appreciated for their restraint, musicality, and fidelity to the guru–shishya parampara, drawing sustained applause from the audience.
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Senior disciples of Guru Shovana Narayan presented selected compositions of legendary music composers, Pandit Jwala Prasad and Pandit Madho Prasad.
Continuing Tradition 2025 also marked the conclusion of the year-long celebrations of Guru Shovana Narayan’s seventy-fifth year, bringing together memory, mentorship, and artistic lineage in a manner that resonated deeply with all present.
With its seamless blend of tribute, reflection, and performance, Continuing Tradition 2025 stood as a reaffirmation of ASAVARI ’s commitment to nurturing classical arts and honoring the enduring bond between guru and disciple. The evening left audiences with a renewed sense of reverence for Kathak and the collective responsibility of carrying its legacy forward.
(All photos courtesy: Media net Works)
