Bismillah's musical heir to light up Dev Deepawali

Varanasi, Nov 2 (UNI) The riverine Balaji Temple here, believed to have rendered the treasured glimpse of Lord Vishnu to shehnai king Bharat Ratna late Ustad Bismillah Khan, will on November 5 be illuminated by signature performance of Naiyyar Hussain -- the 'musical successor' and second son of the music legend.

''The Naubatkhana of the Balaji Temple at the Balaji Ghat dotting the sacred Ganga river is the place where Khan Sahib polished his musical prowess for three decades and was blessed with the 'darshan' of Lord Vishnu. His musical successor and second of the five sons Naiyyar will now ignite the world famous Dev Deepwali celebrations from the Naubatkhana to mark Kartik Purnima on November 5 evening,'' general secretary of Kendriya Dev Deepwali Samiti (KDDS) Vageesh Mishra said here yesterday.

The Dev Deepawali symolising twinkling fantasy to celebrate elemination of demon Tripur by Lord Shiv will start with the unique 'Makhan Shringar' (butter embellishment) at the Balaji temple on Kartik Purnima morning. This shringar has been revived after eight years.

The musical celebrations will begin with the shehnai recital of Naiyyar Hussain in Naubatkhana of the dilapidated temple to be followed by the lighting of 11,000 diyas on the Balaji Ghat, much like the other 83 Ganga ghats which will also bask in the twinkle of diyas the same evening.

The twinkling diyas will then hold testimony to the 'Dev Barat' from Balaji Ghat to Mehta Ghat to be followed by a montage of musical and dance presentations on a pontoon stage. The mainstay of the evening will be the 'Deep Nritya' where college girls bearing diyas will welcome the guests in the most rhythmic style, he added.

Mr Mishra said that KDDS, which is accredited with starting the Dev Deepawali on a grand scale on the imposing riverfront in 1986 will this year trigger 'Virasat' -- an attempt to conserve ancient buildings on the riverfront.

''We do not want other buildings on Ganga ghats to follow lines of the dilapidated Balaji temple and hence will start Virasat to conserve the monumental buildings,'' Mr Mishra maintained.

Meanwhile, superstar of Bhojpuri cinema and music Manoj Tiwari 'Mridul' and Mumbai-based artist Indu Sonali will enthral the audience, comprising five diplomats from US Embassy in New Delhi on the Dev Deepawali evening at the famous Dashwashamedh Ghat.

The larger than life floating stage will play host to a string of cultural performances at the Ghat to be organised by Gangotri Seva Samiti (GSS).

GSS president Kishori Ranan Dubey 'Babu Maharaj' said here Minister Concillor for Public Affairs in US Embassy Larry Scwartz will head the delegation of five US diplomats and their families to the ghat basking in the light of diyas.

UNI ARS VS SB HT0910