Rajendra Sharma/Varanasi

Ustad Amir Khan, a great Hindustani classical music exponent and founder of the Indore gharana nurtured a desire deep down in his heart to perform at the Sankat Mochan Mandir of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, dedicated to Lord Hunamuna.

The Sankat Mochan Music Festival was organized for the first time iat the premises of the famous temple in 1932, when Ustad Amir Khan was 11 years old. In no time, the festival became a famous annual event, with musicians from around Varanasi, the spiritual and cultural zone, performing there.

Today, the festival features performances in Indian classical music and dance, and is known for its free entry and performances. The festival takes place annually around Hanuman Jayanti. 

In due course, Ustad Amir Khan became famous and was considered one of the greatest and the most innovative of the Hindustani classical musicians, he too wished to perform at the Sankat Mochan Music Festival.

A dance performance at the sankar Mochan Music festival, 2025

However, he could not attend it as rules barred Muslims and women artists from performing at the Festival.

Ustad Amir Khan felt dejected and, yet hoped one day the rule would be changed and he would perform at the premises of the famous Hindu temple.

The local festival was opened to artists from all over the country in 1962 at its 40th edition. Ustad Amir Khan was a legend by then and he was sure one day his desire would be fulfilled.

The organisers opened the festival to all musicians including Muslims in 2006, but, sadly, by then, Ustad Amir Khan had passed away after leaving a rich legacy of Hindustani classical music.

He was seriously injured in a road accident on 13 February 1974 and passed away leaving the music fraternity in grief and shock.

Some people including Mahant Vishambar Nath Mishra, the head priest of Sankat Mochan temple, were privy to the great Ustad's desire to perform at the temple. Some say he was trying to use his good offices to change the rules of the festival so that Ustad Amir Khan could participate in it.

Mahant Vishambhar Nath Mishra who plays instrumental music, paid his tribute to the late Ustad in partly fulfilled his wish by permitting - for the first time - a woman artist to attend the Festival in 1978. The lone woman artist to perform at the festival was none other than the most dear disciple of the late Ustad - Vidushi Kankana Banerjee.

Vishambhar Nath Mishra is seen playing mridung to accomany the singing of legendary figure Ustad Wasifuddin Khan as on X: 

It was a nice experience to perform with legendary figure Ustad Wasifuddin ji at #SankatMochanSangeetSamaroh2025 pic.twitter.com/ZuV6NWLQ6n

— Vishwambhar N Mishra Varanasi (@MahantMochan) April 20, 2025

She has been a regular at the Sankat Mochan Music Festival. Her presence keeps the music tradition founded and nurtured by the great Indian maestro Ustad Amir Khan alive.

However, to Mahant Vishambar Nath Mishra, her presence fulfills to some extent the maestro's wish. 

It has been almost 52 years since Ustad Amir Khan passed away. There is surely no other platform in the world that commemorates Ustad Amir Khan the way he was remembered at the 102nd edition of the Sankat Mochan Music Festival in 2025. 

Musician and Mahant Vishambhar Nath Mishra

This year, Mahant Vishambar Nath Mishra invited Ustad Amir Khan's son Shahbad Khan, a Hindi film actor. The priest asked him to attend the festival in memory of his legendary father. The Mahant spoke to the Junior Khan in an authoritative and yet loving tone and there was no way he would say no.

He said, "Shahbaz is a part of his father, and I welcome Ustad Amir Khan Saheb in the form of Shahbaz."

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Those present at the inauguration applauded and also wiped tears from their eyes. Shahbaz Khan and Vidushi Kankana Banerjee were too emotional to speak.