Ragas and more

Much of Mumbai has never called on the Elephanta caves...it's a classic case of not noticing what's in your own backyard. The MTDC is still trying to change this. For 16 years now, over a weekend in February, they've been using the UNESCO world heritage site as the backdrop for Indian classical concerts.

This year, Bharatnatyam exponent Alarmel Valli will share the stage with virtuosos like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia on February 23 while Madhavi Mudgal and Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande will regale the crowds on February 24. Tickets, priced at Rs 300 per day, are available at all MTDC counters.

The setting is always as stirring as the performances "" the stage is set, al fresco, outside the main cave complex, by way of seating there are mattresses on the floor and local entertainers and cuisine add an ethnic flavour to it all. The journey to get there only adds to the fun "" the hour-plus ferry ride across from the Gateway of India and then climbing at least 100 stone steps to the peak.

The Elephanta Festival, which marks the close of the string of festivals promoted by the MTDC around historical sites in Maharashtra, aims, of course, to build conspicuity for the site.

The island of Gharapuri (as it was called), was re-christened by the Portuguese navigators when they discovered an enormous stone elephant there or so the UNESCO listing suggests. This elephant is today "the melancholy guardian" of the Byculla Zoo. What remains at the island are magnificent rock reliefs linked to Shaivism.

It is unfortunate that until the '80s, when visiting historians and archaeologists put forward a request to bequeath it heritage status, little was done to improve Elephanta's rapidly deteriorating condition. The caves may or may not ever get restored to their sixth century glory but efforts are underway by the ASI and INTACH to at least stop further degradation. One hopes that with the festival, the city's people, or at least the 1,300 of them estimated to attend it, will imbibe some responsibility towards it.