Vadnagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel honored two female classical music talents with the Tana Riri Award in Vadnagar during the Tana Riri Mahotsav 2024. The award celebrates the contributions of female artists in classical music, and this year’s recipients were Vidushi Padma Suresh Talwalkar from Maharashtra and Dr. Pradipta Ganguly from Ahmedabad. Each awardee received Rs. 2.50 lakh, a trophy, a copperplate, and the Gaurav Samman award from the Chief Minister.

Hailing from Vadnagar in North Gujarat, the two Nagar girls, Tana and Riri, left a legacy of Raag Ragini through their intense dedication to music. The Tana Riri Mahotsav is celebrated annually in Vadnagar in memory of Beldi, an artist who sacrificed herself for the honor of her art.

The Tana Riri Mahotsav has been celebrated every year since 2003, inspired by then Gujarat CM Narendrabhai Modi. In 2010, during the golden jubilee of Gujarat’s establishment, he initiated the tradition of honoring distinguished female classical singers and musicians with the Tana Riri Award. This year, the Chief Minister also presented the awards, continuing this tradition.

On the second day of Mahotsav 2024, a large audience of music lovers gathered to enjoy performances by eminent artists. The event featured the soulful bansuri (flute) playing of Shri Shashank Subramaniam and an engaging folk art presentation by Parthiv Gohil and the Kala Vrind ensemble, adding to the festival’s rich celebration of musical heritage. DeshGujarat