To invoke the gods of rain and welcome the monsoon, a sonic and artsy experience unfolded in the precinct of the Travancore Palace recently. Curated by India Cultural Hub and Excurators , Baarish was a cultural experience that unlayered how the monsoon is a mnemonic of a range of emotions depicted in Indian art and music and also influences food cultures across the country.


Soaking in the soundscape
The ambient sounds of the pitter-patter of the rain were overtaken by a jugalbandhi performance by Lalit Kumar on the tabla, Kumar Sarang on the santoor, Ashim Bery playing the hand pan, and Anant Raina playing the Australian instrument didgeridoo, setting the mood for monsoon.


Of passion, longing & liminality: Monsoon in Indian art
Indian art has long portrayed the monsoon as a symbol of passion, longing and also liminality, a state of being. During his talk titled Moods of Megh, art historian and storyteller Eric Chopra unpacked the many facets of monsoon, as imagined in medieval artworks like Abhisarika Nayika, Madhu Madhavi Ragini and Manaku's pahadi painting of Hiranyagarbha.


“Indian art has always invoked divine strength, but with sensitivity, gentleness and the lyricism of everyday life. Between the 16th and the 19th century, artists belonging to the Pahadi, Mughal and Rajasthani schools of art personified how the ragas would look. For instance, Madhu Madhavi Ragini personified Raag Malhar, and her image, surrounded by peacocks and clouds, was a visual metaphor for longing," he mentioned.

A living moodboard of memories
“Baarish was born from a deeply nostalgic space for me,” said Suhavini Singh, founder of India Cultural Hub and co-curator of the festival. "Growing up, the monsoon was always more than just a season — it was a feeling. There was a romance to it, a softness. I wanted to recreate that, but not in a clichéd or overly curated way. I envisioned Baarish as a living moodboard of memories and emotions. Bringing together art, music, and food felt organic because that’s how we experience the monsoon — through senses and stories, not in isolation," she added.


Rohan Singh, creative producer at Excurators, said, “An unseasonal rain in the middle of summer inspired us to celebrate the monsoons in Delhi, which is usually a lull period in the city. We decided to offer an episodic, immersive celebration to the city- firstly, welcoming the rains, then the season of the downpour, and eventually bidding goodbye to the rains.”


The finale performance was yet another layering of sonic folk traditions by The Baarish Ensemble, curated by WIP Labs and Excurators, along with folk singer Mooralala Marwada. The fusion renditions prompted the audience to sway, clap and sing along, as the artistes finished their set with Duma Dum Mast Kalandar.



A sawan spread to remember
From crispy sabudana fritters paired perfectly with adrak wali masala chai to palak patta chaat and ram laddoo served with khubani ka sharbat and aam panna, Cafe Lota's snack table was laid with food that celebrated the Indian monsoon.


With the feast, which included dishes like the Nepali jhol momos, sekuwa, Kerala prawn fry and Himachali steamed trout, the gathering immersed itself in the magic of the rains. The sawan-special spread also included the rabri and dry fruit-laden ghewar.


Pics: Lokesh Kashyap