Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav

Held in Pune's Maharashtra Mandal Kreeda Sankul, this festival dates back to 1953, when singer Pandit Bhimsen Joshi founded it in tribute to his guru, Sawai Gandharva. Devoted entirely to Hindustani classical music, it has over the decades hosted major figures such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Pt. Jasraj. Spread over several evenings, it remains closely tied to Pune's cultural identity and carries on the guru-disciple tradition central to Indian classical music.