71st Republic Day of India celebrations in Sri Lanka enthralling concert by ‘Divine Quartet’

To commemorate India’s 71st Republic Day a special cultural concert ‘Divine Quartet’ featuring legendary maestros from India, Grammy winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Grammy-nominated Pandit Subhen Chatterjee enthralled the music lovers of Colombo at BMICH on 25 January. The cultural evening was presented by High Commission of India, Colombo. 

More than 1,500 guests attended the cultural event where the legendary ‘Mohan Veena’ maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and internationally acclaimed tabla exponent Pandit Subhen Chatterjee kept the audience mesmerised with their artistic brilliance. The two maestros were accompanied by eminent musicians Sri Salil Bhatt, son of Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, on Satvik Veena and Sri Sambit Chatterjee, son of Pandit Subhen Chatterjee, on the drums.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu, presided over the function. Various ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, diplomats and music lovers attended the special cultural event.  

An exhibition titled ‘Traditional Arts of India’ showcasing the unity in diversity through traditional arts, particularly the folk arts, from different states of India was also held at BMICH and was greatly appreciated by the audience. The paintings in the exhibition were made by the artists of Sri Lanka and India together, thereby representing the true spirit of India-Sri Lanka ties.