While the rest of India gets busy celebrating Kartik Purnima, here is your chance to enjoy the full moon day this November with soulful musical sessions in a forest setting.
Located in the foothills of the Sahyadri Mountains of the Western Ghat range, Vanvadi is a regenerated bio-diverse forest which has been rebuilt from a clear-felled land. With 90 percent tree cover, today, it has water bodies and seasonal streams, medicinal and food trees, and shelters birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc.
During the full moon weekend this November, Vanvadi is organising a two-day musical programme, with the first day dedicated to classical music and the second day to folk. Each day will feature about three hours of acoustic singing, music, and/or an interactive learning &lsquoworkshop&rsquo with invited artistes, such as classical flutist Nityanand Haldipur, disciple of Padma Bhushan Annapurna Devi, doyen of the Senia-Maihar gharana, and daughter of the legendary Ustad Allauddin Khansaheb (Baba) and Shruthi Veena Vishwanath, singer, composer, educator who specializes in Nirguni, Bhakti and Sufi music, among others.
Much of the remaining time would be free (open agenda) for participants to offer folk or classical singing/music from anywhere in the world, according to the organisers.
You may either go on a day visit or plan an overnight outing. Ticketed entry.
Vanvadi is located between Mumbai and Pune, about 100 km from Mumbai, and 10 km from Neral station. Read more about Vanvadi here.
While the organisation said it can host a limited number of guests in their community house, others can set up their own tents or sleep under the open sky. They serve only vegetarian food.
For booking (preferably by November 12), you have to register here.