New Delhi: The second season of Baarish was an ode to India’s cultural relationship with the monsoon. The event wove together classical music, heritage storytelling, visual arts, and sensory fragrance to celebrate rain as an emotion, a memory, and the source of artistic inspiration.
Hosted by Excurators on 21 June at The Upper HSE by Tivoli in Chattarpur, the evening opened with Meghdoot, an evocative flute recital by Atul Shankar, accompanied by Aarush Shankar on flute and Nishit Gangani on tabla. Drawing on Banaras traditions, the performance brought Raag Megh alongside Kajari and Jhula compositions. The musical expertise of the maestros set the warm tone for the evening.
This was followed by Rasikas of Baarish, a captivating art and storytelling session led by public historian and Itihāsology founder Eric Chopra. Through miniature paintings, literary references, textiles, and visual culture, Chopra traced how the monsoon has shaped India’s artistic imagination across centuries.
‘Atmospheric and magnetic season’
Chopra recounted legendary tales, including the story of Miyan Tansen at Akbar’s court. He talked about how, when ordered to sing Raag Deepak, Tansen’s performance caused lamps to ignite and temperatures to rise, until his daughters intervened with Raag Megh Malhar to summon the rains. He spoke about Abhisarika Nayika, the heroine from Natya Shastra, who braves thunder, lightning, and stormy forests led by longing for her beloved.
Chopra highlighted evocative details from paintings: a dancing peacock drinking raindrops like pearls, embracing trees symbolising union, and the sensual transparency of Dhaka muslin offered by the lover after the nayika arrives drenched. Holding a muslin cloth up for reference, he talked about the translucent quality of the material and how it has been portrayed in classical artworks.
Chopra also touched upon the 64 arts of the Kama Sutra, including Gandha Yukti (perfume-making), and the historical invention of rose water linked to Nur Jahan’s family. He talked about the monumental role the rains have played throughout Indian history,
“There is something atmospheric and magnetic about this season. Everything around you can be personified, can be sung, can be celebrated, and that is what we see in our ragas, our paintings, and our stories,” he said.
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‘Celebration of rain as an emotion’
The storytelling transitioned into Perfume & Petrichor: Baarish x OLFA Originals, a conversation between Pallavi Bhatia and Minhal Hasan. The session explored the intimate relationship between fragrance, memory, and emotion. It preceded the launch of Baarish, OLFA’s bespoke fragrance inspired by petrichor and the first rain.
The makers insist that the perfume is crafted with top notes of fresh rain, a green-floral heart featuring amber, saffron, and raspberry, and earthy-woody base notes drawn from traditional perfume knowledge preserved in family diaries.
The night culminated in a headline performance by electronic music pioneers Midival Punditz, joined by Malini Awasthi, Kutle Khan, and Pavithra Chari. The ensemble delivered a spellbinding fusion of monsoon-inspired folk, classical, and contemporary electronic soundscapes.
“Baarish was envisioned as an emotion, one that connects us to memory, music, culture, and each other,” said Minhal Hasan, Founder & Managing Director, Excurators.
Excurators Events is a culture-led experiential company creating original festivals, live experiences, and performance-driven narratives at the intersection of music, arts, heritage, storytelling, and contemporary culture. Baarish: Art, Music & Monsoon, Timeless Ayodhya is one of the many events that they host.
Following the successful opening chapter, Hasan says that Baarish is set to return to Delhi in July and August.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)