Bhopal’s beloved annual Ghazal Utsav is set to return this November after a three-year hiatus, with a line-up that includes some of India’s most celebrated ghazal and classical vocalists alongside international artistes from Pakistan and Iran. The five-day festival will be held at the open-air Bharat Bhavan amphitheatre overlooking the Upper Lake, a venue renowned for its acoustics and scenic setting. Confirmed performers include Ustad Rashid Khan’s disciple Kaushiki Chakraborty, Bhopal-born classical singer Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, and Urdu poet-singer Farrukh Dhondy from the UK. Madhya Pradesh Culture Department Director Deepak Saxena said the government has allocated ₹2.8 crore for the event, which is expected to attract over 40,000 music lovers over its five-day run. Entry for residents of Bhopal will remain free for three of the five evenings. Bharat Bhavan Trust Chairperson Meera Krishnamurthy said the festival will also feature a Mushaira (Urdu poetry recitation event), an exhibition of Bhopal’s Nawabi cultural heritage, and daytime workshops on classical voice training for young students from MP’s government music schools.
