~Ahmedabad will host the Bhadra Festival on November 19 and Water Heritage Series on November 25, 2026, featuring music, theatre, poetry and heritage experiences.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Nov 03 (VNI): Ahmedabad is set to celebrate its rich architectural and cultural heritage with two landmark festivals, the Bhadra Festival on November 19 and the Water Heritage Series on November 25, 2026. Conceived and curated by Crraft Of Art and supported by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the festivals will bring together music, theatre, storytelling, poetry, classical performances and visual arts at some of the city’s historic heritage sites.
The Bhadra Festival returns to Ahmedabad’s historic Bhadra precinct after its first edition in 2014. Marking Crraft Of Art’s 17th year of presenting artistic experiences at historic monuments across India, the festival will begin at 4 pm 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 will feature traditional performances including Nagara by Nathulal Solanki and troupe, Ravanhatta by Vijanand Turi and troupe, Sidi Dhamal by the Sidi Goma Dance Group, Mallakhamb by Incredible Mallakhamb from Maharashtra, and Natya Sangeet by Nisarg Trivedi and Ensemble.
The festival will also showcase theatre, storytelling and exhibitions celebrating Ahmedabad’s heritage. Highlights include a giant puppet parade by Dadi Pudumjee’s Ishara Puppet Theatre, Dastan-e-Darwaza through Dastangoi, and Bhadrakhyan, a traditional Gujarati narrative performance. Three exhibitions—History of Bhadra, Rang Smruti: The Living Archives of Gujarati Theatre, curated by Manvita Baradi, and Bhadra Unposed, featuring photographs by Vinay Panjwani—will offer diverse perspectives on the historic precinct. Projection mapping on Bhadra Fort, a contemporary kinetic art installation and a visual presentation inspired by Mata ni Pachedi on Premabhai Hall will further enhance the festival experience.
The grand concert at Teen Darwaza will feature Ustad Fazal Qureshi on tabla with George Brooks on saxophone, Sheldon D’Silva on bass, Arun Kumar on drums and Rahul Wadhwani on keyboards, followed by sitar maestro Ustad Shujaat Khan, accompanied by Amit Choubey and Sapan Anjaria on tabla. The evening will be hosted by Manav Gohil. Birwa Qureshi, Founder and Artistic Director of Crraft Of Art, said returning to Bhadra after twelve years was special, adding that the festival aims to bring together the precinct’s architecture, theatre, music, traditions and everyday life for audiences to rediscover the historic spaces.
The Water Heritage Series on November 25 will take audiences through three historic stepwells in Ahmedabad’s UNESCO World Heritage City, presenting music, poetry and movement from dawn to dusk. The programme will begin at 6:30 am at Jethabhai Ni Vav with a Hindustani classical vocal recital by Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi. At 11 am, Amrutvarshini Vav will host Vaav Varta, featuring poetry by Soumya Joshi and Anil Chavda, along with a movement presentation by Bharatanatyam dancer Prachi Saathi. The series will conclude at 7 pm at Dada Harir Ni Vav with Vaav Tarang, a musical finale led by Ustad Fazal Qureshi, featuring Dilshad Khan on sarangi, Saskia Rao on cello, Dera Khan on kamaicha, Khete Khan and Zakir Khan on khartal, and special guest vocalist Himali Vyas Naik.
Entry to both festivals will be free. Prior registration through BookMyShow will be mandatory only for Bhadra Fort and the Teen Darwaza concert, while other Bhadra Festival areas will remain freely accessible without registration. The Water Heritage Series will also offer free entry with prior registration, subject to limited seating at all three stepwells. Founded in 2010 by Birwa Qureshi, Crraft Of Art has created cultural experiences at historic monuments including Sarkhej Roza, Adalaj Ni Vav, Dholavira, Champaner-Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav, Modhera, Ellora and Golconda Fort. The organisation acknowledged the support of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archaeological Survey of India, along with Gujarat Vidya Sabha, Red FM as Radio Partner and Selvel as Outdoor Partner. VNI NEWS, Ahmedabad Bhadra Festival 2026, Ahmedabad Water Heritage Series 2026, Crraft Of Art, Bhadra Festival November 19, Water Heritage Series November 25, Ahmedabad heritage events, Ahmedabad cultural festivals, UNESCO World Heritage City Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, Bhadra Festival, Water Heritage Series, Crraft Of Art, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Bhadra Fort, Teen Darwaza, Jethabhai Ni Vav, Amrutvarshini Vav, Dada Harir Ni Vav, Ahmedabad Heritage, Gujarat Cultural Events, Indian Classical Music, Heritage Festivals, VNINews, VNINews.com