A Celebration of Art, Culture, Tradition, Architecture and Heritage in the UNESCO-recognised Walled City of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, 3 November 2026: Two landmark festivals celebrating Ahmedabad’s architectural and cultural heritage: BHADRA FESTIVAL | 19 NOVEMBER 2026 & WATER HERITAGE SERIES | 25 NOVEMBER 2026 CONCEIVED & CURATED BY CRRAFT OF ART SUPPORTED BY AHMEDABAD MUNICIPAL CORPORATION (AMC) PROGRAM DETAILS: BHADRA FESTIVAL | 19 NOVEMBER Twelve years after its first edition in 2014, Crraft Of Art returns to Ahmedabad’s historic Bhadra precinct with a celebration of music, theatre, storytelling, folk traditions and visual arts. The festival marks Crraft Of Art’s 17th year of bringing music, performing arts and contemporary artistic expression to India’s historic monuments. Beginning at 4:00 pm, the festival unfolds across Bhadra Fort, the Premabhai Hall precinct and Bhadra Plaza, culminating in a grand musical concert at Teen Darwaza at 7:15 pm.
The programme features Nagara by Nathulal Solanki & Troupe, Ravanhatta by Vijanand Turi & Troupe, Sidi Dhamal by the Sidi Goma Dance Group, Mallakhamb by Incredible Mallakhamb from Maharashtra, and Natya Sangeet, presented by Nisarg Trivedi & Ensemble. Theatre and storytelling include a giant puppet parade by Dadi Pudumjee’s Ishara Puppet Theatre, alongside Dastan-e-Darwaza (Dastangoi) and Bhadrakhyan, a traditional Gujarati narrative performance.
Three exhibitions offer different perspectives on Bhadra: History of Bhadra, an archival photographic exhibition at Bhadra Fort; RANG SMRUTI, The Living Archives of Gujarati Theatre, curated by Manvita Baradi at the foyer of Premabhai Hall; and Bhadra Unposed, an outdoor installation of photographs by Vinay Panjwani. The festival will also feature projection mapping on the façade of Bhadra Fort, a contemporary kinetic art installation, and a visual presentation inspired by Mata ni Pachedi on the façade of Premabhai Hall.
GRAND CONCERT AT TEEN DARWAZA The evening features Ustad Fazal Qureshi (tabla) with George Brooks (saxophone), Sheldon D’Silva (bass), Arun Kumar (drums) and Rahul Wadhwani (keyboards), followed by Ustad Shujaat Khan (sitar), accompanied by Amit Choubey and Sapan Anjaria on tabla. Hosted by Manav Gohil. Speaking about the festival, Birwa Qureshi, Founder & Artistic Director, Crraft Of Art, says: “Returning to Bhadra after twelve years is very special for us. We wanted to bring together the many layers of this historic precinct, its architecture, theatre, music, traditions and everyday life, and invite people to rediscover spaces they have known for years, but perhaps never experienced quite this way.”
ENTRY: Free. Prior registration through BookMyShow is mandatory only for Bhadra Fort and the Teen Darwaza concert. All other festival areas are freely accessible without registration. A few seats will be reserved.
PROGRAM DETAILS: WATER HERITAGE SERIES | 25 NOVEMBER THREE STEPWELLS. ONE DAY. DAWN TO DUSK. The Water Heritage Series takes audiences through three historic stepwells in Ahmedabad’s UNESCO World Heritage City, bringing together classical music, poetry and movement from dawn to dusk.
VAAV SUR | JETHABHAI NI VAV | 6:30 AM A dawn Hindustani classical vocal recital by Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi.
VAAV VARTA | AMRUTVARSHINI VAV | 11:00 AM Poetry featuring Soumya Joshi and Anil Chavda, alongside a special movement presentation by Bharatanatyam dancer Prachi Saathi.
VAAV TARANG | DADA HARIR NI VAV | 7:00 PM A musical finale led by Ustad Fazal Qureshi (tabla), bringing together Dilshad Khan (sarangi), Saskia Rao (cello), Dera Khan (kamaicha), Khete Khan and Zakir Khan (khartal), with Himali Vyas Naik as special guest vocalist. ENTRY: Free, with prior registration. Limited seating at all three stepwells.
