Musical extravaganza at the Qutub

New Delhi: Popular Bollywood singers Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Niigaam, Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder and KK are set to perform at the Qutub Festival 2011 here.

To be held from November 4-November 8, the event organised by the Punjabi Academy, under the aegis of Delhi government`s department of art, culture and languages, will be held at Qutub Complex, near Qutub Minar. The festival that was once focussed on Sufi and classical music and dance has from 2010 been including other genres too. "This year, we shall be focusing on contemporary music and displaying the performances of some of the best singers in this genre," Rawel Singh, secretary, Punjabi Academy, said in a press statement. "To make the experience a lively and refreshing one, each day of the five-day festival will showcase a different singer and a unique concert," added Singh. The festival is an attempt to preserve and present the rich tradition of Indian music, contemporary, as well as, classical, say organsiers. Last year singer Mohit Chauhan sang a variety of numbers from different genres, Indi-pop, folk and Bollywood tracks. The 2010 show was part of the cultural shows organized to celebrate the capital hosting the Commonwealth Games. The Delhi Administration established the Punjabi Academy in September, 1981 to propagate and promote Punjabi language, literature and culture as an integral part of composite culture of Union Territory of Delhi. Ever since its inception the Academy has been playing a catalytic role in the proliferation of Punjabi literary and cultural activities in the spheres of music, folk dances, seminars, symposia, short story, poetry, novel, literary criticism, drama etc. During the last two decades, the Academy has assumed a significant role and status of premier organization in the field of Punjabi language, literature and culture. Entry to the festival will be through passes that can be availed from Dilli Haat (INA), Dilli Haat (Pitampura), Delhi Tourism Office (Baba Kharak Singh Marg) and Punjabi Academy. PTI