A Hindustani classical music concert will regale aficionados with an array of forms on World Music Day at the planetarium on Tuesday.

The city-based Navras School of Performing Arts will hold the concert in which music lovers can enjoy thumri, chaiti, kajri and tappa renditions by Banaras gharana artiste Rupan Sarkar, a disciple of noted classical singer Girija Devi.

Dharmanath Mishra, another Banaras gharana artiste, will outline the nuances of thumri during the concert, which will start at 6.30pm.

Entry is free for the concert.

Music aficionados in the city were excited.

"These types of programmes are very rarely organised in the state capital," said Shreya Sinha, a student of classical music pursuing a senior diploma course in Hindustani classical music. "For music students like me, such programmes are very important because we get to learn the nuances of music by listening to the doyens whom we can't even meet otherwise."

Cardiac surgeon Ajit Pradhan, secretary of the Navras School of Performing Arts, said: "We only want people to get accustomed with these festivals. In the early 1970s, people here used to attend big musical concerts in which reputed artistes such as Pandit Jasraj, Girija Devi, Sitara Devi and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi used to perform. Residents used to listen to these stalwarts perform throughout the night but now the interest in such programmes is lost. Our organisation wants to revive the culture of Hindustani classical music and resurrect dying arts and literature in the city."

Pradhan said it was third edition of the Navras School of Performing Arts World Music Day celebrations.

City-based classical music doyen Gajendra Narayan Singh, also a Padma Shri recipient, was appreciative of the Navras School of Performing Arts' efforts for organising the Hindustani classical music concert.

Septuagenarian Gajendra said: " Thumri is a romantic articulation of love for Lord Krishna and it portrays various life episodes of his life. With the passage of time, many other semi-classical forms like dadra, chaiti, hori and kajri evolved. However, thumri has its loyal audience. I would definitely go to enjoy the concert."

He, however, said the local organisers should also give these types of platforms to local talents.

"It is good that organisers are calling established singers from outside the state but giving an opportunity to the local singers is equally important. Local singers should not be devoid of such platforms," he added.