Community Organization Verified Founded

1982

Basant Bahar

Castro Valley

Basant Bahar is a non-profit cultural organisation in the San Francisco Bay Area dedicated to preserving and promoting Hindustani classical music and dance through concerts, education, and community engagement.

Upcoming Events

Basant-Bahar-Presents-Splendor-of-Sitar-with-Purbayan-Chatterjee

Aug

In-person

Basant Bahar Presents: Splendor of Sitar with Purbayan Chatterjee

The Basant Bahar Indian Classical Music series presents a distinguished evening of Hindustani classical music at the Cas...

Sat, Aug 22, 2026 | 4:00 PM onwards

Concert

Castro Valley Center for the Arts, California

A man in traditional attire playing a sitar with his eyes closed in a peaceful indoor setting.

Purbayan Chatterjee, Amit Kavthekar

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Bansuri-and-Tabla-Concert-featuring-Padma-Shri-Pt-Ronu-Majumdar-and-Harshad-Kanetkar

Sep

In-person

Bansuri & Tabla Concert featuring Padma Shri Pt. Ronu Majumdar and Harshad Kanetkar

Experience an enchanting evening of Indian classical music as the internationally acclaimed bansuri maestro Pandit Ronu ...

Sat, Sep 12, 2026 | 4:00 PM onwards

Concert

Del Mar High School Theater, San Jose

Ronu Majumdar

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Legacy-A-Sarod-and-Sitar-Recital-with-Pt-Partho-Sarathy-and-Vid-Mita-Nag-at-Joan-Pisani-Community-Center

Oct

In-person

Legacy – A Sarod and Sitar Recital with Pt. Partho Sarathy and Vid. Mita Nag at Joan Pisani Community Center

Legacy brings together three distinguished maestros of Indian classical music in a special presentation celebrating the ...

Sat, Oct 3, 2026 | 4:00 PM onwards

Concert

Joan Pisani Community Center, Saratoga

Surbahar artist Mita Nag performing on stage, seated with the instrument in playing position under blue stage lighting during a live classical music concert.

Partho Sarothy, Mita Nag +1

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Diwali-Prabhat-A-Vocal-Recital-by-Manjiri-Asanare-Kelkar-31-October

Oct

In-person

Diwali Prabhat: A Vocal Recital by Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar | 31 October

Celebrate the spirit of Diwali with an inspiring morning of Hindustani classical music as acclaimed vocalist Manjiri Asa...

Sat, Oct 31, 2026 | 10:30 AM onwards

Concert

Grant Park Community Center, Los Altos

An Indian classical vocalist performs on stage, smiling as she sings into a microphone. She is dressed in a vibrant orange and blue saree with traditional jewelry, including earrings and a bindi. One hand is raised expressively near a tanpura, while the softly lit background highlights her face and performance.

Dnyaneshwar Sonawane is a harmonium player.

Manjiri Asanare–Kelkar, Sanjay Deshpande +1

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About Basant Bahar

Founded in 1982, Basant Bahar is one of the oldest and most respected organisations promoting Hindustani classical music and dance in the United States. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the volunteer-run non-profit presents concerts, baithaks, educational programs, and youth initiatives featuring leading maestros and emerging artists. The organisation is known for creating intimate performance environments that encourage meaningful interaction between artists and audiences. Through regular programming, community support, and cultural outreach, Basant Bahar has played a significant role in preserving Indian classical traditions while introducing new generations of listeners to the richness of Hindustani music and dance.

History

Basant Bahar was established in June 1982 by Narayan Sardesai, G. S. Satyanarayana, Arun Londhe, and a group of dedicated music enthusiasts who sought to create a sustainable platform for Indian classical arts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before its formal registration, concerts were organised in private homes, fostering a close-knit community of rasikas. The organisation's first official concert, held on June 3, 1982, featured renowned vocalist Lakshmi Shankar. Over the following decades, Basant Bahar grew into a respected cultural institution, presenting more than 350 concerts by distinguished musicians and dancers while remaining committed to the preservation, promotion, and appreciation of Hindustani classical traditions.