Nagpur's Marbat festival opens with bhajan evening at Nehru Statue Chowk
Nagpur Municipal Corporation and the Kali Marbat Utsav Samiti held a devotional music evening as part of this year's expanded Marbat festival
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The Nehru Statue Chowk and Maskasath area in Nagpur was steeped in devotional music on Tuesday evening, September 8, as part of the city's ongoing Marbat festival celebrations.
The bhajan sandhya was jointly organised by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Shri Kali Marbat Utsav Samiti. Singer Kishan Bhagat's performance won over the audience.
Mayor Neeta Thakre, deputy mayor Leela Hathibed and standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Vakhare were present on the occasion. Also present were Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) group leader and convener of the Kali Marbat Utsav Samiti Aabha Pandey, Satranjipura zone chairperson Abhiruchi Rajgire, corporators Santosh (Rambhau) Ambulkar and Tushar Larokar, and sports officer Dr Piyush Ambulkar. Kali Marbat Utsav Samiti president Gaurav Harde and a large number of the committee's office-bearers were present, along with a sizeable crowd of citizens.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Neeta Thakre spoke about the civic body's plan to celebrate the Marbat festival on a larger scale this year. She said, "The idea behind this festival is that Nagpur's old tradition and cultural heritage should not remain confined here, but should reach the world. Earlier, this Marbat festival used to be celebrated for just one day, but this time the NMC is celebrating it as a major festival through different cultural and entertainment programmes spread over four to five consecutive days." She also praised everyone who had helped organise the event.
The programme opened with singer Kishan Bhagat's invocation to Lord Ganesh, with devotional songs including "Baba Ganpati Ki Aayi Fauj" and "Mohe Angana Gajanan Aayo Re" resonating through the area.
This was followed by songs including "Bas Itni Kripa Karna, Mera Waqt Sudhar Jaaye", "Main Bhole Ka Deewana" and "Mujhko Bas Mahakal Baba Chahiye", which the audience enjoyed, applauding through the evening.
The NMC felicitated Kali Marbat Utsav Samiti president Gaurav Harde and all committee members for preserving Nagpur's rich culture over the years. Mayor Neeta Thakre and standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Vakhare honoured them. The programme was compered by NMC sports officer Dr Piyush Ambulkar.
