Bal Gandharva Rangmandir Anniversary Festival 2026; Ashokkumar Saraf to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

58th Anniversary Celebrations of Bal Gandharva Rangmandir to be Held on June 24, 25 and 26, 2026

Pune: The 58th Anniversary Festival of Bal Gandharva Rangmandir, a symbol of Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm on June 24, 25, and 26, 2026. The festival is organized by the Bal Gandharva Parivar Trust and presented by Alvira Motion Entertainment. Addressing a press conference, Trust President Meghraj Rajebhosale stated that the festival has been celebrated continuously and grandly for the past 19 years.

Present on the occasion were Deepali Kamble, Director of Alvira Motion Entertainment, along with Parag Chaudhary, Chitrasen Bhawar, Mandar Joshi, Arun Gaikwad, Shashikant Kothawale, and office-bearers of the Bal Gandharva Parivar Trust.
Bal Gandharva Rangmandir is not merely a theatre but a center of artistic expression, culture, and creativity for generations of artists in Maharashtra.

The festival is regarded as a significant cultural event that brings together performers from diverse art forms such as theatre, Tamasha, Lavani, folk arts, orchestras, Marathi instrumental ensembles, cultural troupes, Shahiri, Zhadipatti theatre, Waghya-Murali traditions, Gondhal performances, magic shows, Bharud, and many others.

On the first day of the festival, June 24, 2026, internationally acclaimed artist Ashokkumar Saraf, producer of Melody Makers and a distinguished contributor to the orchestra field for over 65 years, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Raghuveer Khedkar, who has been conferred the Padma Shri for his contribution to the Tamasha tradition, will receive a special felicitation.

Awards in the field of journalism will also be presented to Vidyadhar Kulkarni (Loksatta), Sagar Avhad (Saam TV), and Vijay Jagtap (Pune Varta), who will be honored with the Bal Gandharva Award.

The award ceremony will be attended by distinguished guests including entrepreneur Punit Balan, BJP State General Secretary Rajesh Pandey, senior Congress leader Ulhas Pawar, Alvira Motion Entertainment Director Deepali Kamble, and Dr. Sanjay Chordia. They will present the awards and felicitate eminent artists.

During the three-day festival, a total of 102 artists from various cultural and artistic disciplines across Maharashtra will be honored with the Bal Gandharva Award. Artists representing Lavani, folk arts, magic performances, orchestras, Tamasha, and several other traditional and cultural art forms will be recognized for their outstanding contributions.

The entire three-day festival will be open to the public free of charge and will feature a variety of programs showcasing Maharashtra’s rich cultural traditions. According to the Bal Gandharva Parivar Trust, the anniversary festival will bring together artists and art enthusiasts from diverse creative streams and will be celebrated with great enthusiasm and grandeur.