IBTIDA | Ek Mehfil Aims To Bring The Charm Of Hindustani Baithaks To A New Generation

Imagine this: it's the late 19th century, and you're in the music room of a Bonedi Bari in colonial-era Calcutta. Crystal chandeliers — imported from Europe by sea and railways — are hanging from the high, beamed ceilings. Turbaned stewards are serving hookah, wine, and various culinary delights. All the connoisseurs of the finer things in life have gathered here for an evening of Hindustani classical music. There's the buzz of hushed voices in the back of the room — whispers of a thumri singer who has come all the way from Lucknow for only the night. The atmosphere is electric.

Variously known as jalsa, baithak, or mehfil in parts of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, these indulgent, extravagant celebrations of classical music, dance, and the performing arts were once India's answer to Gilded Age debutante balls and served as the inspiration of many stories, novels, and films like Satyajit Ray's Jalsaghar (The Music Room, 1958). But as times changed and wealth changed hands from decadent blue-blooded aristocrats to the rising bourgeoisie, the old-world culture of patronage and appreciation of the arts faded into the pages of history.

Now, almost a century after the last mehfils took place in the havelis of Hindustani nobility in Delhi, Bengal, Benares, Bombay, and Hyderabad, Ibtida — a commune of cultural connoisseurs who treasure India's rich heritage through soulful rendering of music, art and culture — is trying to revive the subcontinent's bygone mehfil and baithak culture.

At its core, Ibtida is more than just a series of events — it is a living homage to the rich tapestry of India’s cultural and artistic traditions. Founded with the vision of reviving and restoring the essence of India’s artistic heritage, Ibtida seamlessly blends music, art, textiles, and history into deeply immersive experiences.

Since its inception, Ibtida has curated over 22 bespoke mehfils and baithaks across the country, each designed to transport patrons into the heart of India’s cultural narrative. These evenings serve as more than performances; they are dialogues between tradition and contemporary expression. Each mehfil is curated to honor the legacy of artists while offering audiences an experience that transcends the boundaries of time.

This weekend, Ibtida is coming back to Mumbai for another unforgettable evening of music, dance, poetry and art, and a confluence of thoughts, stories, and, history with Padma Shri musician Hariharan. This baithak isn’t just another event; it’s a celebration of Ishq in its truest essence — fiery, tender, and eternal.

Ibtida - Ek Mehfil: Archival Season 2, an enchanting celebration of India’s cultural heritage with Padma Shri musician Hariharan will take place at The Great Eastern Home, in Byculla, Mumbai, on Saturday February 1, 2025. Learn more about the event here.

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