An evening that relives 2500 golden years of women who were elite traditional entertainers, musicians, singers, poets and dancers. The evening is an ode through music and dance to the unsung saga of nagarvadhus, devadasis, maharis, tawaifs, nautch girls and all those courtesans who withstood the sociopolitical and economic upheavals, subtly shaping society at large and becoming the repositories of art and high culture.

Program Itinerary:

•'Mangal Dhwani' by children of @salaambaalaktrust

•'Usha Suktam' in Odissi by @madhur_gupta04

•'Baat Phoolon Ki' in Kathak by @shivani__varma_dances

•Official Launch of “COURTING HINDUSTAN: The Consuming Passions of Iconic Women Performers of India”

•Panel Discussion:

Dr. Sanjoy Roy (@sanjoykroy)

Ambassador Pavan Varma (@pavanvarma1953)

Shri Ashok Vajpeyi (@ashokvajpeyi)

Guru Sharon Lowen (@lowen_12345)

Shri Sunit Tandon

Moderated by: Eric Chopra

Presented by: @sangeet_vidya_niketan | Patrons: The Kishnadwala Trust | Supported by: @worldkathakday | Publishing Partners: @rupa_publications |Book Partners: @kunzum | NGO Partners: Salaam Baalak Trust | Social Media Partners: @itihasology , @mad.mughal.memes , @bumrooo , @itihassnama | Light Design: @sandeepdutta70 | Cinematography: @inneesingh | Master Of Ceremony: @sadhnashrivastav

Picture Credits:

Shivani Varma: @sahilfauzdar

Madhur Gupta: @1001words_studio

Salaam Baalak Trust: @aayushimehrish