Hyderabad will witness the Golconda Fort Festival on December 12 with a focus on music, folk tradition, lights and heritage. The one-day festival will begin with a Telangana folk performance in the afternoon, followed by the Drums of India concert at the Rani Mahal, as the Golconda Fort comes alive with lights, facilitating a dialogue between sound, history and space. The festival will be hosted by Craft of Art, which is celebrating 16 years of hosting cultural events at heritage monuments across India.

This festival is in collaboration with the Language and Culture Department of the Government of Telangana. Birwa Qureshi, founder of Craft of Art, says the festival is a continuation of the organisation’s efforts to find ways to bridge the gap between tradition and the present.

She sees the Golconda Fort Festival as a tribute to the monument: “It will be a confluence of music, heritage and community, which will be a unique experience for audiences of all ages. ” He has organized more than 25 festivals across India.

Highlights of the one-day festival include live performances of Telangana folk dances such as Gusadi, Kommu Koya, Oggu Katha, Burra Katha and Perini Sivathandavam. The evening will include performances by Purulia Chhau artists.

The Drums of India concert at Rani Mahal will be led by Ustad Fazal Qureshi accompanied by singer Vijay Prakash, Dilshad Khan on Sarangi, Sridar Parthasarathy on Mridangam, Uma Shankar on Ghatam and Gino Banks on drums. Ustad Fazal Qureshi said that performing at the fort is like an invitation to connect with history.

Golconda Fort will be illuminated by Craft of Art’s signature lighting designs, and the evening will be hosted by actor and artist Danish Hussain. (Golkonda Fort Mahotsav is on December 12.

Telangana Folk Performance: 3. 30 pm to 5. 30 pm.

Entry is free. Drums of India will start at 7 pm at Rani Mahal.

Entry free, pre-registration through BookMyShow).