An Evening of Dhrupad

Dhrupad:

Dhrupad- the Naad-Yoga - is the most ancient style of Indian classical music that has survived until today in its original form. The nature of Dhrupad is spiritual. Seeking not to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and contemplation in the listener. Dhrupad preserves many of the most ancient principles of Indian music described in the Vedas, Samhitas, Upanishads and Shiksha literatures, which sunk into oblivion with the development of other lighter forms.

The ancient Rishis and the Sufi mystics saw music as meditation, recitation of Mantra, an empathetic way of healing, a path to explore the divine. Dhrupad is deeply embedded in a philosophy of self-awareness. The forte of the form is the Alap, the unfolding of which transports the singer and the listener to a realm beyond sound.

Niloy Ahsan:

For Niloy, true music is a divine play of the Prana, an exploration of the sound within, and the practice of…