A part of city's cultural ethos, Diwali Pahat shows have singers performing amid splendour of lamps
A part of city's cultural ethos, Diwali Pahat showsu00a0 have singers performing amid splendour of lamps
Singer Tansen from Mughal Emperor Akbar's court used to sing Deep Raag during Diwali, resulting in wick lamps being lit on their own. While these days lamps don't get lit by themselves, the musical attempt definitely succeeds. 
Morning Raaga: A special musical show in Diwali early morning taking
place at Shaniwar Wada. Pic/Vivek Sabnis
Diwali Pahat shows -- early morning musical shows replete with lamps -- have now become a part of the city's culture. The first Diwali Pahat group was started on an early morning of a Laxmi Poojan day in 1996 by former mayors Ankush Kakade and Shantilal Suratwala at Saras Baag. "Pune is known not only for good education, but also as a centre of performing arts and music," said Kakde.
"We were the first ones to start this activity. Now there are at least 50 such groups in Pune," said Suratwala. "Now Diwali Pahat has become at big event and we spent a lakhs of rupees on it. Both professional and amateur artists perform. The show starts at 4.30 am at Sarasbaug."
It is an informal atmosphere as people enjoy the melodious Marathi bhaavgeet on a chilly morning. Singers like Hrishikesh Ranade, Bela Shende, Rahul Ghorpade, Kaushal Inamdar, Aparna Sant, Arya Ambekar, Amit Salunke and many more have been participating in this every year.
With Marathi Bhavgeet, old Hindi songs are also becoming a part of Diwali Pahat now. "This is a good platform for young artists. Dr Uddhav Asturkar, a disciple of Ustad Shaid Parvez will play sitar and start the show. This year Amit Joshi, Anup Joshi and Manoj Bhandwalkar are presenting Rythimatics --a special show on rhythm," Suratwala informed.u00a0
Another group Sarasbaug Mitra Mandal is also initiating a Diwali Pahat programme. This group consists of Advocate N D Patil, Shivajirao Davalkar and Rani Gawade. "We light 50,000 wick lamps early morning at Sarasbaug. Many people get their own lamps and light themselves," said Patil. "It almost feels like heaven listening to old songs early in the morning."
Even Shaniwarwada has its own Diwali Pahat show. Noted industrialist Vinay Phadnis has led the initiative for the past 6 years. He said, "We choose the early morning of the Padwa day of Diwali," he said. A good Marathi song is a weakness of every Maharashtrian. We try and make it possible for them in Diwali."u00a0
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