Flautist Atul Shankar opened the programme with a segment titled Meghdoot, that drew on musical traditions associated with Banaras. His recital featured Raag Megh , along with kajari and jhula compositions
Kutle Khan
Talking about her love for saawan , Malini Awasthi said, “In India, rain is hope, celebration and a promise of renewal after months of scorching heat. That is why our many musical traditions are inspired by the monsoon. Clouds have long been seen as messengers of love, and folk music has preserved that emotion for generations”
Malini Awasthi
From Nur Jahan’s court to modern perfumeryDuring the segment, Perfume & Petrichor, Eric spoke about the historical use of attars in the Mughal era, noting that rose attar is often traced to the court of Empress Nur Jahan. He narrated the account: “In the early 17th century, Asmat Begum, Nur Jahan’s mother, noticed a fragrant froth forming on the surface of rose petals while rose water was being prepared through distillation. Intrigued, she asked an attendant to collect the froth in a small bottle to see what it yielded. The result was a concentrated fragrance. The invention of rose attar goes back to the family of Nur Jahan.”
Eric Chopra
Adding another sensory dimension to the experience was Perfume & Petrichor: Baarish x OLFA Originals, featuring a conversation between Pallavi Bhatia and Minhal Hasan. The session explored the intimate relationship between fragrance, memory, and emotion, culminating in the unveiling of Baarish, a bespoke fragrance created exclusively for the event and inspired by the distinctive scent of rain.
In Perfume and Petrichor: Baarish x OLFA Originals, the relationship between fragrance, memory, and emotion was discussed
Ibex and flamingo light puppets by Puppetshala Performing Arts interacted with the audience
Performance by Midival Punditz with Malini Awasthi, Kutke Khan and Pavithra Chari marked a special live return
A taste of the monsoonA monsoon-themed menu by Cafe Lota complemented the programme, featuring dishes such as Banarasi tamatar chaat , ram laddoo, jhol momo, ragi vada pav and siddu , along with beverages including masala chai, aam panna and bel sharbat .
