MUMBAI: With a motive to preserve classical music, the "Kalyan Gayan Samaj" is organising its eighth Hindustani Classical Music festival - "Devgandharva Mahotsav... - 2009. To be held from 11 to 13 December, this annual festival is scheduled to be held at the Aatre Rangmandir, Kalyan.

Spread over three days, the music festival will see performances by eminent artists from 8.30 onwards. On the first day, Devaki Pandit will team up with Tabla maestro Pt. Anando Chatterjee. The second day, 12 December will have singers Bhupinder Singh and Mitali Singh enthralling the audiences with their ghazal performances. On the last day, the music festival will be concluded with performances by Pt. Suhas Vyas and Ashwini Bhide Deshpande on vocals and Pt. Budhaditya Mukharjee on sitar.

Commenced in 2002, the artistes featured included Vishwamohan Bhatt (Guitar), Parveen Sultana (Vocal) Suresh Wadkar (Sugam Sangeet) and 'Yayati Ani Dewvayani', a musical play directed by Hemant Karnik.

In 2003, the festival was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Petroleum Ram Naik. It featured Shubha Mudgal (vocal), Ronu Mazumdar (Bansuri) , 'Nakshatranche Dene' , a program of bhavgeets and the musical play 'Matsyagandha' directed by Hemant Karnik.

In 2004, the festival began with the sarod recital by the world famous Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. A theme- based concert entitled 'Hariroop Alok' by Dr Aha Parasnis Joshi followed with the other artistes - Shruti Sadolikar Katkar and Dr Ahwini Bhide Deshpande. Shirniwas Khale sangeet sandhya also presented in presence of Shirniwas Khale .'Saunshayakallol', a musical play ,directed by Ashish Deodhar and Mahesh Joshi was presented.

In 2005, Rashid Khan (vocal),Satish Vyas (santoor), a jugalbandi of Classical dance by Jhelum Paranjape (Odissi) and Archana Joglekar ( Kathak) were the highlights A programme of sugamsangeet songs 'Sujan Kasa Man Mohi' was also presented.

In the fifth year (2006) the focus was on the 'Guru Shishya Parampara' in performance. Different 'guru shishya pairs were juxtaposed and presented. Ulhas Kashlkar- Ram Deshpande, Hariprasad Chaurasia-Sunil Awachat regaled the audience. 'Sant Vani', a theme based dance presentation by Dr.Kanak Rele was a great success. 'Baithakeechi lavani' another theme-based concert conceived and presented by Dr Ashok Ranade and his pupils was lapped up by the audience.