PNN
New Delhi [India], May 18: The moving and spiritual musical journey of Abhangwari, conceived by National Award-winning Hindustani classical vocalist Mahesh Kale, has set forth on its 2026 international tour, beginning in Australia. The tour has just concluded its Australia and New Zealand leg across Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, marking the first time Abhangwari that has travelled to this part of the world, and will now head to Singapore later this month.
To put it simply, Abhangwari is an emotion, a remembrance, and a shared spiritual experience. Rooted in the centuries-old ‘warkari’ tradition and inspired by the sacred pilgrimage to Pandharpur, the concert series seeks to recreate the essence of the ‘Wari’ through music – a journey where thousands of devotees, known as ‘warkaris’, walk for days across Maharashtra, singing abhangs and chanting the name of Lord Vitthal, in a moving expression of faith, equality, and collective devotion. Having experienced the pilgrimage himself, Mahesh Kale envisioned Abhangwari as a way to bring that profound sense of devotion, surrender and shared energy to those who may never physically undertake the journey – an idea he took across Europe, the United States and Canada in 2025, and now brings to Australia and Singapore for the first time.
Conceptualised as a musical yatra, the performance draws from the timeless poetry of saints like Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar, transforming the stage into a symbolic path towards Lord Vitthal. As the evening unfolds, what begins as a concert gradually turns into a shared act of devotion where language dissolves and the audience becomes part of the experience, many closing their eyes in an almost trance-like state, swaying gently, chanting ‘Vitthala’ along with Kale, and often always moved to tears.
Speaking about taking Abhangwari to newer geographies this year, Kale shares, “First time is always special. I have been to Australia and New Zealand in the past, but Abhangwari is touring here for the first time. What starts as something new often finds a very familiar bond deep within. There are many who don’t even understand Marathi, but as it comes to a culmination, the worship and spirituality bind all of us together, chanting the God’s name as one.”
Over the years, Abhangwari has grown into a global musical movement, travelling across India and international stages, while retaining its original soul. It also forms a significant step in Mahesh Kale’s larger dream of taking Hindustani classical music to every corner of the world… of having everyone experience it at least once. “As I continue to travel through the world with my music, I encounter new people, places and experiences,” he adds. “They find their way into my expression. This year’s Abhangwari is a manifestation of all of that… through new compositions, fresh interpretations, and a story that is told in a new way,” with each year reflecting Kale’s evolving artistic and personal journey
Following its international leg, the Abhangwari journey will soon return home to India this July, carrying with it the energy and experiences gathered along the way. The tour is expected to travel across the country beginning with Ahmedabad (4th July), followed by Kolkata (5th July), Delhi (10th July), Hyderabad (11th July), Bengaluru (18th July), Chennai (19th July), Pune (25th July), Mumbai (26th July), and Puttaparthi (29th July), before moving into August with Indore (1st August) and Nagpur (8th August).
Interestingly, beyond the Abhangwari tour, Mahesh Kale is also set to perform at the Stanford Jazz Festival at Stanford University in the San Francisco Bay Area on 21st June.
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