Soothing Santoor and Thumri by Kaviraj Singh | Santoor and Tabla | Music of India

Darbar Festival

We at Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust (Darbar) believe that Indian classical music is one of the world’s greatest art forms and has the power to transform and transport the listener.  

We are most known for our annual Darbar Festival, which started off as a tribute to the late Gurmit Singh Virdee, an inspirational tabla (percussion instrument) player and teacher who taught thousands of students across the UK. A one-off festival in his memory has now become an annual festival and a key event in the classical music calendar.

Indian classical music has evolved over thousands of years. It is built on improvisation, a holistic raga (a set of notes performed in a melodic way) system and intricate mathematical flow making it unique. At its very core are the cultural and spiritual traditions of India, giving it a depth and significance, which transcends many other genres of music. Put simply it stirs the soul.

Few people, however, have access to Indian classical music because they don’t understand or simply don’t know where to find it.  In a bid to champion Indian classical music, we have re-shaped the landscape of Indian classical music in Britain, by promoting excellence, risk taking and innovation.