A moment from the musical evening in Dibrugarh. Picture by Eastern Projections

Time stopped at Radhakrishna Devasthan as the nimble fingers of two artistes performing a sitar jugalbandi tugged at the heartstrings of music connoisseurs.

The mandir recently hosted a classical music concert and the audience, including eminent personalities, savoured every moment of the event. It was organised by the Murulidhar Jalan Memorial Trust of Dibrugarh.

The main attraction was, however, the jugalbandi by two Rabindra Bharati University alumni who regaled the audience with their captivating performance. The winner of the Sahitya Academy award for translation, Nirupama Phukon, also known as Anubad Kuwari, lit the ceremonial lamp. In his brief speech former Asam Sahitya Sabha president Nagen Saikia showered blessings on the artistes.

The programme began with a Sanskrit vandana by Mamata Borthakur that lifted the ambience to a spiritual high. The sitar jugalbandi was performed by Abhishek Adhikary and Murchana Adhikary Borthakur.

They were accompanied by Madhurjya Ranjan Borthakur on the tabla.

The rendering of raag Behag on sitar by Abhishek and Murchana, who did their post graduation in music, left the gathering completely spellbound.

Abhishek is a disciple of late Sukumar Chandra and Pandit Deepak Chaudhury.

Murchana was taught by her mother Nilima Bor-thakur, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri and Pandit Deepak Chaudhury. Their presentation showed intense talim and melody well mixed with virtuosity. The sheer beauty of alap, god, taans and tehais, decorated with alankaras mystified the environment.

Madhurjya too enthralled the audience with his different tukdas and chakradars.

A disciple of Dilip Ranjan Borthakur, his fingers on the tabla did the talking, mesmerising the audience. He enthralled the audience with tukdas and chakradars.

The unique blend of melancholy and romanticism reflected through Behag left an everlasting impression that cannot be effaced.

The audience was also moved by the sawal-jawab between the tabla and the sitars.

The programme ended with a romantic dhun in Pilu based on Deepchandi of 14 beats. The sound system of the programme was slightly imbalanced.