New Delhi : The setting was perfect. As the rains drenched Delhi, culture enthusiasts soaked in the essence of the monsoon through dance and music at the Malhaar Festival here.

The two-day festival that began Monday evening is being organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The fest opened at Azad Bhavan here with a light classical music concert by Malashri Prasad and a Kathak recital by Sharmishtha Mukherjee, the daughter of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Initiated into music by Ira Chakravarti, Malashri Prasad, who set out with 'khayal gayaki', turned to light classical music when she met Savita Devi, daughter of 'thumri queen' Siddheshwari Devi of Varanasi. Her hour-long rendition, which included 'thumri' and 'khayal' renditions, was power-packed.

Danseuse Sharmishtha Mukherjee, who won over the audience with the joyous spontaneity of style in her beautiful white kathak costume, has been tutored by Uma Sharma, Rajendra Gangani and Pandit Durgalal.

The festival draws its soul from the classical raga Malhar, believed to trace its roots to Mallari, a tribal melody that was practised by inhabitants of the tribal-dominated Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh centuries ago, an ICCR spokesperson said.

It is also believed that the legendary raga 'Megh Malhaar' was sung by two sisters - Tana and Riri - to invoke the rain gods and cool musician Tansen's body after he sung the fiery Raga Dipak to prove to emperor Akbar that his music had the power to start a fire.

Ustad Amir Khan immortalised 'Malhaar' with a track in the movie 'Baiju Bawra' based on the raga. On Aug 24, the festival will see Shubhendra Rao, a disciple of maestro Ravi Shankar, on the sitar accompanied by Akram Khan on tabla and Ustad Kamal Sabri on the sarangi.

Shubhendra Rao is ranked amongst the key soloists of India. He has followed in his mentor's footsteps to perform at Broadway, Carnegie Hall in New York, WOMAD festival in Guernsey, Britain, National Arts Festival in South Africa and Theatre de le Ville in Paris.

In 2007, Rao was awarded the 'Youth Icon for Classical Music' by Zee TV. Kamal Sabri is a seventh generation Sarangi exponent of the Senia gharana of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. He was initiated into music by his father.