Barsaat – the Monsoon! In the South Asian subcontinent, it is a time of joyous new beginnings, renewal and rejuvenation, when the life-giving waters burst through the dark clouds up above and within ourselves to bring forth new verve in life. Each one of us experiences Barsaat differently. For the farmer, it is a time of great bounty in his crops, for children and the old and leisurely. it is a time to relax and reflect while munching on delicious deep-fried savory fritters and chai. For the youth, it is a time to experience that strange flutter in their hearts, that exciting “butterflies in the stomach” moment, and how that other “regular” person or friend no longer remains just a friend but becomes something deeper, more charged with possibility. And then there are the rest of us, the artists, the chosen few! It is now when something inside is freed, is unshackled. Like rain breaking through dry ground, it brings forth a new hue, a new flavor, a fresh expression that enables us to embark on another exciting voyage in our art.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow artists and patrons of art, while the South Asian subcontinent and other parts of Asia collectively and gleefully celebrate the monsoon, we too shall gather here in the third of the intimate concert series Mehfil-e-Kalakaar to share! Welcome to Bazm-e-Barsaat – a Monsoon Gathering. A Rendezvous in Rain

This event is generously funded by The Canada Arts Presentation Fund, Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada