Vocalist Rahul Deshpande’s Ashadhi Wari Resonates With Nagpur Citizens | Nagpur News

Nagpur: For a few hours on Sunday evening, the journey to Pandharpur found a home in Nagpur. As chants of “Ram Krishna Hari” echoed through the packed Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, acclaimed vocalist Rahul Deshpande’s Abhangawari recreated the devotional fervour of the Ashadhi Wari, taking listeners on a musical pilgrimage through the verses of Maharashtra’s revered saint-poets.The concert opened with a traditional gajar, setting a devotional tone before Deshpande eased into a ragadari presentation, seamlessly transitioned to abhangs and bhajans cherished by generations of Warkaris. His sister, Deepti Mate, also joined him onstage for part of the performance.Blending Hindustani classical music with timeless poetry of Maharashtra’s saint-poets, Deshpande presented compositions including Rajasa Sukumara, Pandharpuricha Nila, Kam Krodh Amhi Marava, Bhagyada, Shriranga Vitthal, Jagadodharana, Khel Mandiyela, Lakshmi Vallabha and the concluding Savale Parabrahma in Bhairavi. Familiar favourites such as Kanada Raja Pandharicha drew loud applause, with many in the audience joining Deshpande in chorus, turning the concert into a shared celebration of Warkari tradition.The performance culminated in a collective Vitthal gajar, as hundreds of voices rose together in chants of ‘Vitthal Vitthal,’ recreating the atmosphere associated with the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur during Ashadhi Ekadashi. The Orange City holds a special place in Deshpande’s musical journey as he gave his first public performance here at the age of 11, while his grandfather, the legendary Vasantrao Deshpande, spent part of his childhood in the city after being born in the Amravati region.Nagpur marked the eighth stop of Abhangawari 2026, Rahul Deshpande’s 13-city concert tour dedicated to carrying Maharashtra’s Bhakti tradition beyond the state’s borders. Beginning in Pimpri-Chinchwad last month, the tour has travelled through Indore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Amravati and Nagpur, with performances scheduled in Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, Ahmedabad and Vadodara.For Nagpur’s audience, the evening was less of a concert and more about reliving spirit of the Wari — without leaving the city.