About Jhankriti


The World Forum for Art and Culture's quest for finding and promoting talent has found a beautiful expression in an exquisite art festival called – झंKriti (A word born from the union of the words - Jhankaar & Sanskriti). While it is designed like a competition, it truly is a festival- a festival to celebrate the diversity of Indian classical art forms!

As a part of the ongoing celebration of the 42nd year of the Art of Living, in collaboration with World Culture Festival 2023, Jhankriti 2023, will serve as a grand celebration of Indian art and culture. A platform that will amplify Art of Living's mission of promoting cultural diversity and unity through art.

Just like the World Culture Festival, known for its spectacular display of global heritage, Jhankriti 2023 is a unique platform for young artists, performers, and cultural enthusiasts from around the world to showcase their talents, traditions, and artistic expressions. Our aim is to encourage and appreciate the fresh talent and upcoming artists and to provide opportunities for professional growth and interactions with Maestros of Indian Arts. This year Jhankriti celebrates the four fields of Arts - Gayan (classical/semi-classical vocal), Vadan (instrumental/percussion), Nritya (classical dance forms), and Natya (theatre). We have structured this in three broad age groups: Below 12 years, 12 to 16 years, and 17 to 21 years.

With Jhankriti, WFAC aims to create a vibrant, sensible, and inclusive space where artists can immerse themselves in the richness of global cultures. And the WCF's emphasis on cultural exchange, unity, and artistic excellence aligns seamlessly with the mission of launching Jhankriti.

Categories

Vocal
1. Hindustani
2. Carnatic
3. Devotional
4. Light/Semi-Classical
5. Folk
Classical Dance
1. Bharatanatyam
2. Kathak
3. Odissi
4. Kuchipudi
5. Mohiniattam
6. Chhau
7. Kathakali
8. Sattriya
9. Manipuri
Group Folk Dance
1. North
2. South
3. East
4. West
5. North East
6. Central India
Instrumental
1. Wind
2. Percussion
3. String
Theatre
1. Ek Paatri
2. Group

Last date of registration for Jhankriti 2023 is 31st August

Win Prizes

As a winner, you will be entitled to an array of exciting rewards and benefits that will further enhance your vskills, provide valuable experiences, and propel your career to new heights. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey like no other!

Mentoring and Meeting the Maestros Jury: Gain invaluable insights and guidance from the industry's experts and maestros . You will have the opportunity to interact with the esteemed jury members of Jhankriti 2023 through webinars and also watch them perfoma live in BHAAV 2024, who will share their expertise and provide mentorship to nurture your talent further.

Yoga and Meditation Sessions: Enhance your physical and mental well-being through exclusive Yoga and Meditation sessions by the Art of Living designed to increase stamina, improve focus and promote overall wellness, enabling you to excel in your craft.

Exclusive pass to Bhaav 2024: India's Biggest Cultural Conference: Immerse yourself in a three-day cultural extravaganza at Bhaav 2024, India's most prominent cultural conference.. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere, witness breathtaking performances, and connect with artists, art patrons and art enthusiasts from across the country. As a winner, you will receive complimentary passes to this grand event and enjoy a comfortable stay at the Art of Living International centre in Bengaluru.

Performance Opportunity: Showcase your talent on a grand stage! During the prize distribution ceremony at the prestigious Art of Living centre in Bengaluru, you will have the honour of performing in front of a live audience of more than 25,000 people. Furthermore, your performance will be broadcasted to a massive online audience, reaching over 500 million viewers worldwide. This exposure will provide a significant boost to your career and help you gain widespread recognition.

Cash Prizes: Jhankriti 2023 believes in recognizing and rewarding outstanding talent. As a winner, you will receive substantial cash prizes, acknowledging your exceptional skills and hard work. These prizes will serve as a token of appreciation and can be utilised to further your artistic pursuits.

Gifts and Goodie Bags: you will receive special gifts and goodie bags which will include an Ayurveda kit, carefully curated to promote health and well-being, along with a range of exciting goodies to commemorate your participation in Jhankriti 2023.

Prepare yourself to embrace an extraordinary journey filled with opportunities for growth, recognition, and personal development. Jhankriti 2023 aims to provide you with a platform to showcase your talent to the world and take your passion to new heights.

How is it different?


· It is a classical arts online competition with the intent to promote Indian Performing Arts amongst the masses via the strong reach of Gurus, Institutions, Art of Living, and other organisations.

· Awards include Cash prizes, and opportunities to intern under Great Maestros, to perform at AOL events, and also be a part of the dance and music recordings.

· A unique platform that combines classical & semi-classical vocal, classical & folk dance, classical instrumental music and traditional theatre.

Event Structure

Auditions will be conducted online

Semi-Finals will be conducted online

Grand Finale will be held online

The award ceremony will be held onsite

Important Dates:

Last date of Registration: 31st August, 2023

* Pre-screening: 1st-20th September, 2023

Semi-finalists will be declared: 1st October, 2023

Last date to submit entries for the finale: 30th October, 2023

Finalists will be informed: 15th November, 2023

Grand Finale: 1st-15th December, 2023

The awards ceremony will be held onsite (tentatively in Jan 2024)

*Dates are fluid depending on the availability of the Ministry Officials and the Jury.

Jhankriti Finale


Jhankriti Award Ceremony in January 2024, will be followed by a sublime evening devoted to the recognition of the talent unearthed in the competition, even as the maestros regale the audience with their artistic mastery. The evening will comprise the following parts:
1. Performances by the eminent jury
2. Performances by winners
3. Award ceremony

Jhankriti viewership


Jhankriti will be presented to the global Art of Living community of 45 million people in 180 countries. A community that came together to participate in and witness, one of its kind global event-World Culture Festival, 2016 with 2.8 Million+ artists joining to create 12 Guinness World Records. In addition to this, the powerful social media presence of our jury has increased the viewership of the event, attracting millions of art lovers across the globe.

A Glimpse of Jhankriti Journey

Jhankriti 2022

Jhankriti 2022 was the first-ever pan India Virtual Online Competition of Performing Arts. The Festival of Jhankriti celebrated three fields of Art:
1. Gayan (classical/semi-classical vocal)
2. Vadan (instrumental/percussion)
3. Nritya (classical dance forms).
It was structured for three broad age groups: below 8 years, 8 to 16 years, and 17 to 25 years.

Timelines

Sl.No Date Stage Description
1 Upto 15th August - 2022 Registration Participants submit their entry videos
2 Upto 30th August, 2022 Pre-Screening Registered participants are pre-screened and shortlisted by a panel of 50 member pre-screening jury
3 Upto 15th September, 2022 Screening Shortlisted participants are evaluated and selected for the semi-final round by 11 member screening jury of expert artists
4 30th August- 15th September, 2022 Masterclass Webinars All pre-screened participants will get a chance to attend a free masterclass webinars by 45 WFAC distinguished mentors
5 15th September, 2022 Semi-Finalist Selection Official Announcement of the names of the selected sem-finalist
6 16th September-1st October, 2022 Mentoring of Semi-Finalist Semi-finalists get a chance to be mentored by the 10 member mentor jury which will help the candidates prepare for the final round submission
7 10th October, 2022 Final Round Submission Last date for the Semi-finalist to submit their entries
8 Between 20th to 25th October, 2022 Finalist Selection Official Announcement of the names of the selected finalist
9 2nd, 3rd, and 4th November - 2022 Finale Live on zoom in the presence of the mentors and star jury. The finalist will perform live online
10 December, 2022 Award ceremony The awards ceremony will be held at the International Headquarters of the Art of Living in Bengaluru, India

Jury– Jhankriti 2022


Jhankriti is an all-India competition aimed at preserving and promoting Indian classical art forms. This celebration has an esteemed panel of judges to not only critique but also encourage and support younger generations, inspiring them to continue their creative journey. We have different jury members for each category in Dance (Nritya), Instrumental music (Vaadan), and Vocal music (Gayan). Our distinguished dignitary and jury panel who will grace the occasion with their presence are:

Star

Vadan
Slide instrumentalist

Chitravina Ravikiran ji, is an Indian slide instrumentalist, vocalist, composer,and orator, who created the concept of Mel harmony.

Vadan
Flute

An internationally acclaimed flutist of India, a rare combination of an innovator and a traditionalist. He is a versatile artist whose horizons also extend beyond North Indian Classical music to Indian folk and popular music and to western music as well

Gayan
Carnatic Vocal

Smt. Sudha Raghunathan is the gaan saraswati of the carnatic musical tradition, with a bhakti-drenched voice that has touched the souls of millions around the world.

Nritya
Bhartanrityam

Bharatnatyam exponent, Research Scholar, Choreographer, Music Composer, Singer, Teacher, Author, and Indologist. Director- Nrityodaya. Aims to Bring together the Marga (traditional) technique of the Natya Shastra and the Regional form of Bharatnatyam.

Gayan
Hindustani vocal

Pt. Sajan Mishra, is a Hindustani vocal maestro whose voice takes us from the tangible earthiness of the spiritual city of Banaras to the intangible grandeur of the ragas.

Gayan
Carnatic Vocal

An Indian classical vocalist, known for her expertise in the Carnatic and Hindustani schools of classical music

Nritya
Kathak

Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator of Indian classical dance. Holder of the First Doctorate in Kathak classical dance, Director of advanced research in Kathak center At Sri Sri University, Cuttack

Mentor

Vadan
Sitar

Indian String instrumentalist who has created patented guitars Chaturangui, Gandharva, and Anandi, which not only excel in sound variety and quality.

Vadan
Flute

Ronu Majumdar is an Indian flutist in the Hindustani classical music tradition rooted in the Maihar Gharana. He won the first prize at the All India Radio competition and the president’s Gold medal in 1981. He has more than 30 audio releases to his credit. He won the prestigious Aditya Vikram Birla Award in 1999 for his dedication to music. Sahara India Pariwar felicitated him with a lifetime achievement award on the occasion of Jyoti Diwas 2001. In 2014 he won the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award.

Gayan
Hindustani vocal

Jayateerth Mevundi (born 1972) is a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Kirana Gharana, a young maestro awardee

Gayan
Carnatic vocal

Foremost young performing musicians of Carnatic music in India today. He is an 'A' grade All India Radio artist. The magazine India Today featured him among 35 Game Changers Under (the age of) 35 in India

Nritya
Odissi

Indian classical dancer and teacher of Odissi dancing style, of 'Srjan' (Odissi Nrityabasa)

Nritya
Kuchipudi

Indian Kuchipudi dancer and actress. Founder, Nishrinkala Dance Academy

Nritya
Bhartantayam

India's foremost Performing-Academician, ingenious choreographer, erudite author, scholar, and researcher, Dancer, Research Scholar, Choreographer, Music Composer, Singer, Teacher, Author, and Indologist, Director- Nrityodaya.

Nritya
Kathak

Indian actress and Kathak dancer was appointed as the Kathak ambassador by the Government of India 2015

Nritya
Harikatha

Harikatha exponent, Sharat is also a trained Kathak dancer and a Carnatic vocalist

Vadan
Carnatic Percussion

Carnatic musican and exponent of Mridangam, has performed with emminent Carnatic Musicians. He is a prominent Guru and performing artist. He has directed and performed exclusive percussion ensembles and solos that bring together a variety of percussion instruments.

Screening

Nritya
Bharathanatyam

Guru Smt Bhagyashree Satthish is an accomplished Bharathanatyam & Mohiniyattam dancer, a versatile choreographer, and a dedicated teacher. She has performed all over India and also in Sweden, Germany, London, Canada & USA and holds the title Natya Mayuri conferred to her by none other than Smt Vyjayathimala Bali. She was awarded Bharatha Muni by Dr. Dhananjayans and Bala Rathna by the renowned Bala Peetam

Gayan
Thumri singer

Faculty for Thumri Vocal Music with Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi, visiting faculty with Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, an external examinee for Delhi University

Nritya
Kathak

Tribhuwan Maharaj is a young dancer, music composer, and dance choreographer. He represents the ninth generation in the lineage of the legendary Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow

Gayan
Light Vocal

Richa Sharma is an Indian film playback singer as well as a devotional singer

Vadan
Flute

Nagaraju Talluri is a preeminent Flautist, who is very unique in his capabilities of playing flute starting at the age of 10.

Vadan
Sarod

Troilee & Moisilee are the two young Sarod players of Senia-Maihar Gharana

Gayan
Hindustani vocal

Swar is the grandson and disciple of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj ji, making him the 7th generation of Mewati Gharana.

Gayan
Carnatic Vocal

Two of the most popular Carnatic musicians from the younger generation. Smt S. Aishwarya was fortunate to be initiated into music by her great grandmother Bharat Ratna M.S Subbulakshmi ji and Grand mother of Radha Vishwanath. S. Soundarya The sisters draw inspiration from their legacy but also maintain their own musical individuality.

Vadan
Carnatic Percussion

Sarvesh Karthick is a skillful artist, exhibiting his skills on varied percussion instruments and musical gadgets. His creative ideas, intensive traditional training on the Mridangam make a sharp mind.

Nritya
Kuchipudi

Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, an exceptional Nattuvanar, and a unique choreographer

Nritya
Odissi

Award-winning dancer, Assistant professor, Sri Sri University

Nritya
Garba-Folk

Garba dancers, Founders- Soni’s School of Garba Dance


Jhankriti Ke Sarathi


Pandit Vijayshankar Mishra is the Indian tabla Maestro, A veteran writer and a musicologist, belongs to long lineage of Tabla players of the Banaras Gharana


Kumud Diwan is a semi-classical vocalist, an established and acclaimed exponent of Thumri.


Sh. Ajay ji is the foremost disciple of Padamshri Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and is a Mohan Veena instrumentalist


Sh. Abhay ji is an Indian Santoor player, music composer and conductor.


Pt. Chetan Joshi is one of the senior most flutists of Indian Classical Music. Playing three and a half octaves using single flute, is a unique style developed by him, which has got him mentioned in many research papers. He is a senior disciple of world famous flutist late Pt. Raghunath Seth. He has also learnt from famous vocalist Late Acharya Jagadish and great flutist Late Pt. Bhola Nath Prasanna. At present he is receiving guidance from Padmashri Pt. Ajoy Chakravorty.

Jhankriti 2019


The success of the Jhankriti Live event which happened in the Nation’s Capital at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and Culture for the Delhi NCR region in 2019 with more than 500 participants. This event provided a platform for all young students of classical music and dance, from all over Delhi NCR to showcase their talents and interact with the Great Maestros of Indian Arts.

Jhankriti 2019

The success of the Jhankriti Live event which happened in the Nation’s Capital at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and Culture for the Delhi NCR region in 2019 with more than 500 participants has led to the birth of Jhankriti 2022- an Online event that will become an exclusive a one-of-a-kind virtual event all over India. This event provided a platform for all young students of classical music and dance, from all over Delhi NCR to showcase their talents and interact with the Great Maestros of Indian Arts. Jhankriti Live gained support from the artists and reputed institutes like Kathak Kendra Delhi, Faculty of music-Delhi university, Sangeet Natak Academy, Triveni Kala Sangam, Shri Ram Centre for Arts and Culture, Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, Ganesh Natayala, AICTE, Sa Ma Pa and many more.

About World Forum for Art and Culture


World Forum for Art and Culture has been founded by those who want to see a world united through art. Inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of a stress-free, violence-free society & to spread a smile on every face, World Forum for Art and Culture was founded in September 2020. Instituted under the umbrella of the global NGO, The Art of Living, WFAC aims to bring people of different cultures, religions, and nationalities together with art performed on massive scales. A mega example includes the 2016 World Culture Festival where thousands of artists from all over the world brought millions together to celebrate and dream for a more peaceful co-existence. The Art of Living’s efforts to bring artists together through the World Culture Forum is one of its many initiatives to uplift human life and make life a celebration. Keeping the same motto in mind we launched Artist Circle an initiative by the artists, of the artists, and for the artists. A global platform to perform, preserve, and promote global Art and Cultural forms!

Other initiatives are Kala Arpan- a celebration of the classical and folk art forms.