Mysore/Mysuru: ‘Shehnai Chakravarthy’ Pandit Dr. S. Ballesh Bhajantri will present Shehnai Recital at Chikkagadiyara (Dufferin Clock Tower) in city between 8 pm and 9.30 pm tomorrow (Sept. 29). An Internationally celebrated Shehnai artiste and (Patiala Gharana) vocalist, ghazal singer, Pandit Dr. Ballesh hails from M.K. Hubli town of Belagavi district.

Pandit Ballesh was conferred with India’s fourth-highest civilian award ‘Padma Shri’ on 73rd Republic Day in 2022, in the field of Art, by the then President of India Ram Nath Kovind and by this great honour, the Government of India has brought back the Shehnai to centrestage.

With this recognition, Pandit Ballesh (known generally as Ballappa) became the second classical musician of India after Ustad Bismillah Khan to receive the coveted award. It may be mentioned that K.B. Ganapathy had written about Pt. Ballesh Bhajantri in his Abracadabra column in yesterday’s Star of Mysore. He had  also hoped that Ballappa is invited to perform in Dasara music programme.