CHENNAI : The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) is pleased to announce its 9thAnnual International Conventionfrom May 20 to May 26, 2024 atthe prestigiousIndian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras), Tamil Nadu.The institute has previously hosted our convention twice – 1996 and 2014.
Prof.V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, expressed his happiness that IITM is able to be a part of the Cultural Revolution that SPIC MACAY has been leading for the last 46 years. He has extended his full support to the convention.
The main supporter for this convention is Tata Consultancy Services. This is SPIC MACAY’s flagship event that is held every year at a reputed educational institution* of the county. It is a week-long festival of Indian culture where more than 1500 students and volunteers gather from across India& world.The schedule of the convention is such that a person is completely isolated away from the world that is bombarded with too much information.
The participant gets an outlook of Indian culture, heritage and ethics as they interact with greatest artists for free and at close quarters. Activities in the convention range from classical music &dance concerts, folk performances, crafts workshops, cinema screenings, heritage walk,shramdaan, early morning yoga (4 am) and eating holistic food. The idea of organizing the convention is to contrive uniqueashram-like atmosphere to leave an impact on the new generation.
This also resonates with SPIC MACAY’s core purpose – have every child experience the inspiration and mysticism embodied in Indian and World heritage. The vision is to reach every child by 2030.
Like every year this year too the Convention will feature some of the finest and best artists from all over the country. Some of the artistes performing at the convention are – Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia (Hindustani Flute), UstadAmjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Vid. Padma Subrahmanyam (Bharatanatyam), Vid. SudhaRagunathan (Carnatic Vocal), Vid. Seshampatti T. Sivalingam (Nadaswaram), Vidushi A. Kanyakumari (Carnatic Violin), Pt. UlhasKashalkar (Hindustani Vocal), Pt. M. Venkatesh Kumar (Hindustani Vocal), UstadShahidParvez Khan (Sitar),VidushiSunayanaHazarilal(Kathak)UstadWasifuddin (Dhrupad), Vid. JayanthiKumaresh (SaraswatiVeena), Vid.AshwiniBhide Deshpande (Hindustani Vocal), Shri Margi MadhuChakyar(Koodiyattam) and VidwanLalgudi GJR Krishnan (Carnatic Violin).
The convention will also have five-day long workshop intensives by eminent artistes &craftspersonssuch as Carnatic Vocal by VidwanNeyveliSanthanagopalan, Gurbani by DrAlankar Singh, Sattriya by Guru GopiramBurhaBhakat, Kathak by Vid. SunayanaHazarilal, Mohiniyattam by Dr Neena Prasad, Odissi by VidushiMadhaviMudgal, PungCholom by KhumukchamRomendro Singh, PuruliaChhau by Shri TarapadaRajak, Hatha Yog by Swami TyagrajanandSaraswati, Puppetry by Sudeep Gupta, Dhrupad by UstadWasifuddinDagar. Different types of craft intensives such asTikuli painting (Bihar) by Shri Ashok Kumar Biswas, Gond Tribal painting (Madhya Pradesh) by Shri BhajjuShyam, Mughal Miniature painting (Rajasthan) by JanabShakir Ali, Roghan art (Gujarat) by Janab Abdul Gafur Khatri, Mask making (Majuli Assam) by Shri Hemchandra , Terracotta (Tamil Nadu) by Shri VK Munusamy, will also be conducted.
The Convention is open to only school & college students who have registered for the event. Their entire accommodation and food will be free of cost as they get to experience the best of classical Indian arts in its full glory for a full week.
*PAST INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS:
2013 – IIM CALCUTTA
2014- IIT MADRAS
2015 – IIT BOMBAY
2016 – IIT GUWAHATI
2017 – IIT DELHI
2018 – IIT KHARAGPUR
2019 – JNU, DELHI
2020-22 – ONLINE
2023- VNIT NAGPUR