The SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) Heritage Club of IISER Mohali brought a vibrant cultural experience through its annual Virasat 2025 series, held from February 11th to 25th. The event was a celebration of India’s classical heritage, blending workshops, performances, film screenings, and heritage walks, immersing the campus in traditional art and thought.
The festival opened with workshops led by masters of Indian art forms. Padma Shri Pandit Ritwik Sanyal introduced students to the meditative depth of Dhrupad while Shri Vijay Sharma, also a Padma Shri conducted sessions on Kangra painting, guiding participants through the techniques of this traditional visual art.
In the realm of dance, Padma Shri Vidushi Geeta Chandran led workshops on Bharatanatyam, exploring the expressive power of gesture and rhythm. Complementing this was a series of Hatha Yoga sessions by Tyagraj Saraswati, emphasizing the harmony of breath, body, and consciousness.The evenings came alive with a series of captivating performances. Pandit Ritwik Sanyal’s Dhrupad recital enthralled audiences with its spiritual depth. The rhythmic brilliance of Vidushi U. P. Nagamani on the Carnatic mandolin, and magnetic energy of Sardar Balkar Singh Siddhu’s Punjabi folk music left everyone enthralled. Geeta Chandran’s Bharatanatyam recital narrated timeless stories through elegant movement. The series concluded with a Hindustani vocal performance by Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar.
Beyond performances, Virasat also included a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha, offering cinematic depth, and a heritage walk to the Chandigarh Bird Park, reconnecting participants with nature. Through this thoughtfully curated festival, the SPIC MACAY Heritage Club IISER Mohali not only showcased India’s cultural richness but also created a space for introspection and learning. Virasat 2025 was a dialogue between tradition and youth.
