14th Taalchakra Festival to Be Held on October 31 and November 1

Pune : Music lovers in Pune can look forward to two evenings of exceptional rhythm, melody and dance at the 14th edition of the Taalchakra Festival, to be held on Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Swargate. Conceptualised by renowned tabla maestro Padma Shri Pandit Vijay Ghate, the festival is dedicated entirely to percussion and celebrates the rich diversity of Indian rhythmic traditions.

The two-day festival will begin at 6 pm on both days. Entry will be free and on a first-come, first-served basis, informed Pandit Vijay Ghate while announcing the festival. The event is being organised with the special support of the Punit Balan Group.

The 14th edition promises a captivating blend of Indian classical music, fusion and dance, bringing together acclaimed artistes representing different musical gharanas and traditions.

The opening day, Saturday, October 31, will feature a special session titled Fusion 2026, conceived and led by Pandit Vijay Ghate, renowned Tabla player. The line-up features Sheetal Kolwalkar (Kathak), Tanmay Deochake (harmonium), Sagar Patokar (tabla), Nagesh Adgaonkar (vocals), Shikhar Naad Quireshi (DJembe), Sangeet Haldipur (keyboards), Ravi Chary (sitar), Sheldon D’Silva (bass guitar), Gino Banks (drums) and George Brooks (saxophone). The session will be compered by Milind Kulkarni.

The second day, Sunday, November 1, will feature three distinctive sessions celebrating the virtuosity of percussion and the interplay between rhythm and dance.

The first session will present a solo tabla recital by renowned Farrukhabad gharana exponent Pandit Sanjay Mukherjee.

The second session will bring together tabla and Kathak in a rhythmic dialogue featuring Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, a disciple of Pandit Gyan Prakash Ghosh and an exponent of the Farrukhabad gharana; Durga Arya, a Lucknow gharana Kathak dancer and disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj; and Pandit Mukundraj Deo, representing the Banaras and Ajrada gharanas of tabla.

The festival will conclude with Shiv Tandav, a special pakhawaj performance by Krishna Salunke, a promising young percussionist from the pakhawaj tradition of Pandit Nanasaheb Panse.

With its diverse line-up of accomplished maestros, emerging talent and innovative musical collaborations, the Taalchakra Festival continues to offer audiences a distinctive celebration of India’s rich percussion heritage.

Entry to the festival is free. Organisers have appealed to interested attendees to register in advance by contacting 9370830002.