MUMBAI: Taking forward its tradition of promoting Indian classical Music, All India Radio (AIR) will be hosting this year's Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan from 7 - 8 October at 21 venues across India. 

Air features known and upcoming artistes on the national stage through this annual initiative instituted in 1954.

The 2006 Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan is being dedicated to the legendary Sarod maestro Ustad Baba Allauddin Khan for his great service to classical music. As a tribute to the multi-faceted musician, a concert is being hosted in his home town Maihar as well, informs an official release.

Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan will be that rare occasion for music lovers to listen to some of the seldom heard ragas like Malgunji, Kaushik Dhwani, Saraswati Kedar, Basanti Kedar, Swanandi, Suha, Chhaya Behag, Maluha Kedar etc. Besides vocal recitals in Hindustani and Carnatic forms, the Sangeet Sammelan offers a treat to music lovers featuring a wide range of instrumental recitals on Sitar, Sarod, Veena, Chitraveena, Rudraveena, Guitar, Violin, Sarangi, Tabla, Pakhawaj, Flute and Nagaswaram, the release adds.

Vidushi Veena Sahasrabuddhe, N. Ravi Kiran, Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Dr N Ramani, Pandit Samaresh Choudhary, Pandit Arvind Parikh, Pandit Basant Kabra, Pandit Nityanand Haldipur, Pandit Madhav Gudi, Bahauddin Dagar, C. Saroja and C. Lalita are among the prominent artistes participating in the Music Festival.

To popularise the Indian classical music, Air is holding the Sangeet Sammelan in several tier two cities like Jammu, Dehradun, Darbhanga, Patiala, Kolhapur and other cultural centres like Shantiniketan, Varanasi, Dharwad etc, besides the metro and capital cities.

Prasar Bharati CEO Brijeshwar Singh says, "All India Radio has played an exemplary role in national integration and Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan is one of its activities which has truly and completely reflected the national ethos." He adds, "For the first time AIR will also release CDs of the best of the Sangeet Sammelan concerts."