Gandhinagar, Nov 22 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, officially launched the 2025 iteration of the Tana Riri Festival in Vadnagar, a town steeped in history. He emphasized the need for citizens to bolster India's cultural and artistic heritage by embracing local traditions.

This annual music festival is collaboratively organized by the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Mehsana district administration, functioning under the Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities.

During the inaugural event, the Chief Minister honored the esteemed classical vocalist Kalapini Komkali with the prestigious Tana Riri Sangeet Samman Award for her significant contributions to Indian music.

In his address, CM Patel noted that Vadnagar, which boasts a history spanning 2,000 years, has always been a hub of devotion, service, and artistic brilliance. He regarded the legendary sisters Tana and Riri as luminous representatives of India’s musical legacy, and he drew parallels to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Vadnagar native, who embodies the spirit of “nation first” through his dedicated service.

The Chief Minister pointed out that PM Modi has initiated numerous projects aimed at revitalizing and promoting Vadnagar's cultural and archaeological significance.

The town now features a modern archaeological museum, while key sites from the Prime Minister's youth — such as his elementary school and the old railway station where he worked — are undergoing redevelopment.

As part of the Centre's Swadesh Darshan Scheme, critical heritage sites in Vadnagar, including Sharmistha Lake, Tana Riri Park, Lateri Stepwell, Ambaji Kotha Lake, and portions of the fort wall, are being restored. A light-and-sound spectacle has also been launched at the ancient Hatkeshwar Temple to showcase its history to visitors.

Highlighting the richness of India's musical heritage, CM Patel stated that music is increasingly utilized in therapeutic practices and underscored that the Prime Minister prioritizes the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.

Linking the government's vision of a developed India by 2047 with the revival of traditional arts, he urged citizens to safeguard local art forms, embrace indigenous practices, and contribute to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The inaugural evening featured captivating performances by awardee Kalapini Komkali, renowned sitar virtuoso Niladri Kumar, and singer Ishani Dave, who enchanted the audience with classical, instrumental, and folk music.

This festival commemorates the historical event where Tana and Riri, daughters of Sharmistha, granddaughter of saint-poet Narsinh Mehta, sang Raag Malhar to extinguish the flames ignited by Tansen’s performance of Raag Deepak. The festival was institutionalized in 2003, and the Tana Riri Sangeet Samman was established in 2010 during PM Modi's term as Gujarat's Chief Minister.

The inauguration was graced by the presence of ministers Jitu Vaghani and Rishikesh Patel, community leader Somabhai Modi, district officials, MLAs, the chairperson of Vadnagar Municipality, members of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and a large assembly of music enthusiasts from Vadnagar and Mehsana.