Kathmandu:

Bhakti Sangeet Utsav, a celebration of devotional music for an entire day, is being organised at the Pahsupatinath temple premises on February 3.

Featuring musical artistes from both Nepal and India, the day promises to be more than just a day devoted to bhajans. It promises to be a day that marks cultural exch-ange at the highest form — devotion to a greater power.

The event is presented by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with the BP Koirala Nepal India Foundation and managed by Kaal Bhairav. The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post are the official print media.

This Bhakti Sangeet Mahotsav, planned at the end of the holy month of Magh, is aimed to be the crescendo for the month long devotional fervour through a blend of music and spirituality.

Famous Indian artistes Sharma Bandhu and Nepali artistes like Gurudev Kamat, Batuk Raj Mishra, Narendra Pyaasi and Ishwar Amatya will be performing at the Mahotsav. The Acharya bro-thers — Satya Raj and Swarup Raj — will the guest artistes.

According to Gopal Baglay, the Consular of the Indian embassy, the event is a part of the cultural exchange programmes being supported by the Indian embassy. “It is an endeavour to promote classical music and to express the commonality between the two countries regarding music and culture,” he said.

Renowned musician Bhakta Raj Acharya will be felicitated at the event for his contribution to music in Nepal.

The aim of the event is to promote understanding at a popular level of the close cultural and musical similarities between India and Nepal, to highlight the close link between music, religion and spirituality of the two nations, bring the young and the elderly together through music and religion, create a higher degree of awareness of devotional form of music and bring together different forms and genres of devotional music, provide a platform to younger artistes and especially spread the message of peace and harmony.

The utsav is divided into two parts — from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Entry is free.