Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Vice President's Secretariat on 21st August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated ‘MALHAR 2026’ in New Delhi on August 21, 2026. Organized by Antar Hriday Connect, this youth-centric, monsoon-themed celebration aims to connect younger generations with India’s classical music heritage. The event emphasized the role of youth as cultural ambassadors and recognized significant contributions to the arts through formal awards and felicitations.
Key Points / Main Content
Event Overview and Theme
Inauguration: The Vice President officially launched ‘MALHAR 2026’, a celebration of Indian classical music held in New Delhi.
Cultural Context: The event is themed around the monsoon and the "Malhar" family of ragas, which are traditionally associated with renewal, hope, and the refreshing of the human spirit.
Accessibility: The initiative focuses on creating opportunities for young people to engage with classical music through free concerts.
Awards and Recognitions
Cultural Diplomacy: Shri Saurav Sharma of Nepal was presented with the Antar Hriday Cultural Diplomacy Award.
Artistic Excellence: Eminent artists Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Pt. Rajendra Gangani were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to Indian culture and the arts.
Strategic Vision for Classical Music
National Unity: Music is described as a primary thread connecting India’s diverse regions, summarized by the Vice President as "many voices, one Bharat."
Soft Power: Indian classical music is highlighted as a form of soft power capable of transcending international borders to foster friendship and goodwill.
Evolution: The document emphasizes that India’s musical heritage remains a "living tradition" due to its continuous evolution.
Impact Analysis
Indian YouthImpact
The youth are identified as the essential "custodians and ambassadors" of India’s civilizational heritage. They are the primary target audience for the cultural engagement efforts of ‘MALHAR 2026’.
Action Required
Young people are encouraged to experience classical music and actively take India's cultural traditions to various communities across the world.
Antar Hriday Connect (Organizers)Impact
The organization is recognized for its role in cultural diplomacy and for providing free platforms for classical music engagement.
Action Required
The organizers are encouraged to establish the celebration as a recurring annual journey, returning every monsoon with wider participation and increased energy.
Artists and Cultural PractitionersImpact
Eminent artists and cultural figures receive national-level recognition and awards, reinforcing the importance of their contributions to India’s soft power and heritage.
Action Required
No specific action is mandated, though the document implies a continued role in contributing to the evolution and preservation of Indian arts.
Key Entities Referenced
MALHAR 2026: A youth-centric, monsoon-themed celebration of Indian classical music aimed at connecting youth with India’s musical traditions and cultural heritage.
Antar Hriday Connect: The organization that organized the MALHAR 2026 event and facilitates engagement between young people and India's classical music heritage.
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan: The Vice President of India who inaugurated the event and presented awards for outstanding contributions to Indian culture.
Antar Hriday Cultural Diplomacy Award: A recognition presented during the event to individuals, such as Shri Saurav Sharma, for promoting cultural exchange and diplomatic ties through the arts.
Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla: Member of Parliament and Chief Patron of Antar Hriday Connect, recognized as a key leadership figure behind the cultural initiative.
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President inaugurates 'MALHAR 2026',
celebrates India's rich classical music heritage
MALHAR connects youth with India’s timeless musical
traditions: Vice President
Music reflects India’s diversity and shared spirit: Vice
President
Youth must become custodians and ambassadors of India’s
cultural heritage: Vice President
प्रव तथ: 21 AUG 2026 8:55PM by PIB Delhi
The Vice President, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated ‘MALHAR 2026’, a youth-centric,
monsoon-themed celebration of Indian classical music by Antar Hriday Connect, in New Delhi.
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, inaugurated ‘MALHAR 2026’, a youth-
centric, monsoon-themed celebration of Indian classical music by Antar Hriday
Connect, in New Delhi today.
The Vice President noted that the Malhar family of ragas is traditionally
associated with the… pic.twitter.com/yMHWR3SH4u
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) August 21, 2026
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President appreciated Antar Hriday Connect for creating opportunities
for young people to experience and engage with India’s rich classical music heritage, particularly through
free classical music concerts.
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the Antar Hriday Cultural
Diplomacy Award to Shri Saurav Sharma (Nepal). He also felicitated eminent
artists Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Pt. Rajendra Gangani for their outstanding
contributions to Indian culture and the arts during… pic.twitter.com/VSvElCQLQh
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) August 21, 2026The Vice President said that across Bharat, every region has its own musical traditions, sounds and styles,
yet music remains one of the strongest threads connecting the country. He described India’s cultural
diversity as “many musical traditions, one shared spirit; many voices, one Bharat.”
He noted that the Malhar family of ragas is traditionally associated with the monsoon and described ‘MALHAR’ as a symbol of
renewal, with music having the power to refresh the human spirit, awaken imagination and inspire hope.
The Vice President emphasised that India’s classical music tradition has remained a living tradition because it has continuously
evolved. He urged the youth to become custodians and ambassadors of India’s civilisational heritage and encouraged them to
take the country’s classical music and cultural traditions to communities across the world.
He also highlighted music as one of India’s greatest forms of soft power, capable of transcending language and borders and
fostering friendship, understanding and goodwill.
The Vice President congratulated all those associated with MALHAR and expressed hope that the
celebration would become a recurring musical journey, returning every monsoon with greater energy,
wider participation and an ever-growing love for Indian classical music.
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Chief Patron, Antar Hriday Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla ; President, Corporate Affairs,
ITC Shri Anil Rajput; Chairman, Galaxy and Sawasdee Group Shri Pradeep Kumar ; and Antar Hriday Youth Cultural
Ambassador for India Shri Saurav Sharma and other dignitaries were present during the occasion.
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