“Sawan” is a one-of-a-kind cultural evening conceptualised and performed by Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, one of India’s most celebrated voices in folk music. Set in the capital city of Delhi during the monsoon month of Sawan, the event will bring alive the sights, sounds, and soul of India’s seasonal traditions through evocative musical forms like Malhar, thumri, ghazal, Kajri, and Jhula.

These songs, born from rural landscapes and agrarian rhythms, echo a collective memory that binds generations. Through this performance, we invite audiences to reconnect with the emotional and ecological richness of the Indian monsoon.

Why It Matters — Now More Than Ever

India’s youth today stand at the crossroads of global influence and cultural amnesia. In an age of digital saturation, rapid urbanization, and increasing disconnection from traditional life, there is an urgent need to preserve and promote India’s intangible cultural heritage — its oral traditions, music, and folk expressions.

“Sawan” is not just a concert; it is a cultural intervention — one that brings the timeless wisdom of folk traditions to new generations. By reviving seasonal songs of longing, joy, and nature’s abundance, we remind young audiences that identity, rootedness, and resilience can be drawn from our heritage.