India today celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with Swar Utsav, a five-day musical feast in the heart of Delhi's Connaught Place. In an era when the culture of large, open-air music extravaganzas is dwindling, an overwhelming public response to Swar Utsav 2000 encouraged the India Today Group to make it an annual event dedicated to the "tuned in" people of Delhi.

Swar Utsav 2001 was held on November 23-25 at the awe-inspiring India Gate lawns with the cooperation of the Delhi Travel and Tourism Development Corporation and the New Delhi Municipal Council. Apart from adding a regal touch, the venue ensured the accommodation of a larger audience-numbering over 12,000 at its peak-who braved the post-Diwali chill late into the night.

The billing included an enchanting blend of veteran maestros led by Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan and sitar player Ustad Rais Khan, seasoned classicists like Ajoy Chakraborty and Aruna Sairam, some of the best young musicians of the day, including violinists Ganesh-Kumaresh, passionate folk singers Reshma and Barkat Siddhu and Sri Lanka's most popular fusion band The Gypsies. The tastefully done up stage under a waxing moon added to the festive atmosphere. principal photographer bandeep singh captures the high points.

More pictures of Swar Ustav at www.indiatoday.com.

INAUGURAL EUPHORIA: Shehnai king Bismillah Khan(left) was followed by Nightingale of the Thar, Reshma's husky resonance (centet) and mellifluous ghazals rendered by Hariharan (right)-courtesy Magnasound
TOP SOLOISTS: Ghulam Ali's inimitable ghazals ( left), Ajoy Chakraborty's impeccable Khayal (centre) and Barkat Siddhu's Punjabi Sufi songs (right) dominated the fare
SOUTHERN SURPRISES: Violin duo Ganesh and Kumaresh ( left and centre) accompanied by percussionist Taufiq Qureshi (right) gave Carnatic music a new twist.
LILTING STROKES: In a rare duet, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande's soaring vocalism (left) blended perfectly well with Biswajit Roy Chowdhury's singsong sarod (center); Aruna Sairam's morning concert had even north Indians riveted to their seats (right)