Crystal Lighthouse Productions plans to present the Women's Music Festival on March 28th and 29th during Women's History Month in 2026. We aim to curate a festival that showcases the talents of women artists and raises awareness and support for various initiatives. This festival is dedicated to Padma Shri Pta. Tripti Mukherjee's tremendous efforts in making the beautiful and sacred art of Indian classical music accessible to students in the United States. All are welcome to attend in person or online.

Please read on to know more about the following:

Dedication
Program
Intention
Artists and Speakers
Organizations We Love and Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Resources
Credits

Dedication

This festival is dedicated to Padma Shri Pta. Tripti Mukherjee's tremendous efforts in making the beautiful and sacred art of Indian classical music accessible to students in the United States. Pta. Tripti Mukherjee is an Indian-American classical vocalist. She belongs to the Mewati Gharana. She is the founder and director of the Pandit Jasraj Institute for Music Research, Artistry, and Appreciation in New Jersey. Pta. Tripti Mukherjee has been teaching Indian Classical Music to students in the United States for the past three decades.

Program

Day 1: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 11:00 am to 5 pm
11:00 am: Welcome remarks, Keynote by Ibha Kumar, Opening prayer by Jayashri Nagaraja
12:30 - 1:30 pm: Miral Vaghela, Vocal
2:00 - 3:00 pm: Camila Celin, Sarod
3:30 - 4:45 pm: Anindita Roy, Vocal

Day 2: Sunday, March 29, 2026, 11:00 am to 5 pm
11:00 am- Noon: Local artists and vendors showcase
Noon: Welcome remarks
12:15 - 1:30 pm: Devika Thakkar, Payal Banerjee, Vandana Govindan, Vocal
2:00 - 3:00 pm: Megha Rawoot, Sitar
3:30 - 5:00 pm: Monica Joshi, Vocal

We are grateful for all the artists who will accompany the women artists listed above.

Tabla: Ehren Hanson, Mir Naqibul Islam, Chinmay Paranjape, Ravi Venugopalan

Harmonium: Rohan Prabhudesai, Shailesh Chirputkar

Sarangi: Rohan Misra

Intention

Why support women artists?

It takes courage to step onto a stage and share one's voice. Women often prioritize the needs of their families and communities, yet they possess deep sensitivity, rich expression, and a uniquely powerful voice that should be heard. What if we offered women artists a nurturing & encouraging environment and a receptive audience — so they felt confident in sharing their voices?

We frequently come across numerous posters and event flyers featuring male artists. When we pause and ask, "Where are the women artists?" we often find them close by—talented and devoted—yet absorbed in household responsibilities, family care, demanding careers, and the quiet work of empowering and uplifting others. This event is an intentional effort to bring those women into the spotlight.

When does a woman find time to sing? Often, only after she has ensured that everyone around her is comfortable. Will she sit for riyaaz or accept a performance opportunity when her attention is pulled by young children, busy spouses, or professional responsibilities? And yet, when she is peaceful, supported, and joyful, she creates music of extraordinary beauty.

Over time, many women experience diminished self-esteem for reasons ranging from feeling unseen or unrecognized in their work, to the physical and emotional changes that accompany pregnancy, motherhood, postpartum life, menopause, and other life transitions. Sensitive women, in particular, may feel isolated in their journey. Can we, as a community, intentionally do better?

Indian Classical Music is rooted in understanding the grammar of a raag—a musical language—and expressing oneself creatively within it. This art form is living and dynamic. It is not fixed or rehearsed; what the artists perform is created in the moment. While the foundational composition—its lyrics and melody—is fixed, the improvisations arise spontaneously, making each performance fresh and alive.

Let us create a space where women artists feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to create. This event is an opportunity to rally behind women artists and invite them to share their talents—and their beautiful voices—with us.

Artists and Speakers

Ibha Kumar

Senior executive in the Financial Services Industry.

Jayashri Nagaraja

Jayashri Nagaraja is a student of Hindustani Classical Music at the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music and Artistry, the Mewati Gurukul. In this Gurukul, Jayashri feels fortunate to be under the Grace and Chhatra-Chhaya of Guruji, Padmashri Honored Pandita Tripti Mukherjee Ji and Bade Guruji, Sangeet Martand Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj Ji. Growing up in a musical family immersed in Carnatic music in Chennai, Jayashri was introduced to Hindustani and Western classical music by her father and has dabbled in both. Jayashri is a faculty member at the Pandit Jasraj Institute and also deejays Sangeet, an Indian classical music show on WPRB in Princeton.

Miral Vaghela

Miral Vaghela, a student of Hindustani Classical Music in the Mewati Gharana tradition, has been pursuing her musical journey at the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music and Artistry, the Mewati Gurukul. Miral feels fortunate to be under the Grace and Chhatra-Chhaya of this Gurukul, and Guruji, Padmashri Honored Pandita Tripti Mukherjee Ji. Under the auspices of her Guruji, she has realized that this journey of learning music is a lifelong, comprehensive process that is not limited to music but extends to life and beyond. Miral is also under the able guidance of Adyashree Lalita Mathur Ji at the Gurukul.

She believes music is the language of God and connects with the divine in an instant. Music is extremely healing for her and a beautiful way to connect with people and spread joy. A proud Mewati, Miral, also has an inclination towards light classical music, such as Bhajans and Haveli Sangeet. Miral works full-time in the IT industry. Apart from coding and singing, she finds cooking very therapeutic.

Camila Celin

Camila Celin, born in Bogota, Colombia, is a musician, composer, producer, a co-founder of Brooklyn Raga Massive (a music collective that has employed thousands of musicians), and director and founder of RASA, an events production and music curation company. Camila is a captivating performer who has a steadily growing fan base in NYC and beyond.

Celin has been playing guitar for 30 years. Over the last 15 years, she has been intensely studying Indian music with some of India's finest maestros. Celin has two GRAMMY nominations for collaborative works in the New Age Music and World Music categories. To learn more about Camila, please visit https://www.camilacelin.com/.

Devika Thakkar, Vandana Govindan, Payal Banerjee

Devika Thakkar, Vandana Govindan, and Payal Banerjee are students at the Pandit Jasraj Institute for Music Research, Artistry, and Appreciation, the Mewati Gurukul, an international institution that provides instruction in North Indian classical vocal music. In this Mewati Gurukul, they are under the Grace and Chhatra-Chhaya of Bade Guruji, Sangeet Martand Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj Ji, and the auspices of Guruji, Padma Shri Pandita Tripti Mukherjee Ji.

Anindita Roy

Anindita is a versatile and accomplished vocalist with an extensive background in diverse genres of Indian music, including Hindustani Classical, Semi-Classical, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, and modern Hindi/Bengali music. Born into a musical family in West Bengal, her journey began under the tutelage of her grandfather, Sri Nitya Gopal Roy, a respected music teacher. She later trained in Hindustani Classical music under Professor Achintya Roy Chowdhury of Kolkata, a senior disciple of Ustad Amir Khan Sahib of Indore Gharana.

After moving to the United States, Anindita became a disciple of Padmashree Pandita Tripti Mukherjee, the senior-most disciple of Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj Ji and founder of the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music and Research in the USA. Anindita began performing from a young age, earning accolades at various inter-college and district-level competitions. She has since graced prestigious stages across India and the United States with her expressive and deeply emotive performances.

Passionate about nurturing a love for music in others, Anindita founded the Alankaar School of Music in 2015, where she currently serves as the Artistic Director. She also serves on the faculty of the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, New Jersey, New York, Pittsburgh. She used to be a faculty member of Kalabhavan of Houston Durgabari Society till 2024, where she taught contemporary music. Through her teaching, she aims to bridge cultural and generational gaps, offering instruction in Hindustani Classical, Semi-Classical, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, and modern Hindi/Bengali music.

Anindita's approach to teaching is rooted in compassion and connection. Her training in Western music helps her relate to younger students while emphasizing core principles of voice training, rhythm, notation, and musical understanding. She believes music education builds confidence and empowers students to express themselves creatively. She remains committed to inspiring and cultivating the next generation of Indian-American musicians. Beyond her professional life, Anindita is a devoted wife and mother to two daughters.

Megha Rawoot

Megha Rawoot is a Mumbai-based sitar player. She is a disciple of Sitar Maestro Purbayan Chatterjee. She has been playing sitar since 2009. She has taken the training in sitar from Mrs. Deepti Mishra and Pt. Madan Shankar Mishra also. She is an awardee of the National scholarship for junior category in the field of sitar by CCRT, Ministry of Culture, and an awardee of the Scholarship for young artists in the same field by the Ministry of Culture.

She has performed on National and International stages. Some well-known venues and events in India where she performed are Nehru Centre (Mumbai), India Habitat Centre (New Delhi), NMACC (Mumbai), Dhonno Dhanyo (Kolkata), Harman Palm Expo India (Mumbai), etc. She has toured in the USA, Russia, China, and Thailand for her solo Indian Classical concerts and with the Classicool band (led by Sitar Maestro Purbayan Chatterjee). For the last few years, she has been collaborating with well-known artists, musicians, and bands, such as Salim-Sulaiman, Abhijit Vaghani, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Bhoomi Trivedi, and Gayatri Asokan, exploring and welcoming new genres of music beyond Indian Classical Music.

Monica Joshi

Smt. Monica Joshi began her journey in music at the age of nine. She holds a Master of Arts in Music and has also earned the prestigious titles of Sangeet Vishaarad, Alankaar, and Mewati Pradeept / प्रदीप्त. Her foundational training was in the Gwalior Gharana under the guidance of Smt. Leela Datar and Pt. Keshavrao Rajhans Ji.

During her postgraduate studies, before her marriage, she had the opportunity to study at the Gurukul of Sangeet Martand, Param Pujya Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj Ji, in Mumbai, an experience that deeply shaped her musical and spiritual understanding.

After her marriage, she relocated to Singapore and later to the United States. She taught Hindustani classical music for six years at the well-established institution, Kala Mandir, Singapore. In the United States, Smt. Joshi continued her advanced training as a student of the Pandit Jasraj Institute for Music Research, Artistry, and Appreciation, a part of the Mewati Gurukul—an international institution dedicated to the propagation of North Indian classical vocal music. At the Mewati Gurukul, she continues to remain under the grace and chhatra-chhaya of Bade Guruji, Sangeet Martand Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj Ji, and under the auspices and guidance of Padma Shri Pandita Tripti Mukherjee Ji.

Smt. Monica Joshi has been teaching Hindustani classical music in the New Jersey area for over two decades under the banner of Dinkar Sangeet. She has had the honor of performing three times at the Sur Bahaar concert, organized by the Marathi Vishwa community in the tri-state area.

Alongside her teaching, she actively contributes to the field through articles on various aspects of Hindustani classical music and offers theoretical contributions to the Pandit Jasraj Institute for Music Research, Artistry, and Appreciation.

Ehren Hanson

Ehren Hanson is a professional NYC-based tabla player. He has been playing tabla for more than 25 years. Ehren performs classical Indian music as a soloist and accompanist in New York and around the world. He is a dedicated disciple of the legendary tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Ehren has collaborated on experimental and creative projects with West African maestro Noura Mint Seymali, Cuban legend Bobby Carcasess, Roman Diaz, the American Symphony Orchestra, and many others.

Ehren is also the founder of Viewcy. Viewcy's mission is to preserve music cultures from around the world. Through Viewcy, Ehren and his team focus on supporting musicians, fostering intercultural dialogue, and increasing cross-border collaboration. They work with and support emerging talent as well as musical leaders from diverse cultures across the globe.

Ehren Hanson envisions a world where music is rightfully honored and valued. He has established the Universal Creator Income Fund to empower artist communities. It provides financial and material support to help them preserve and grow their music culture. Currently, the Universal Income Creator Fund is supporting projects in Africa, South America, the US, and South Asia.

Mir Naqibul Islam

Mir Naqibul Islam is a New York-based tabla player from the “Farukhabad” gharana. Mir has been trained in the traditional guru-shisya style of Indian Classical music from Pt. Ashoke Paul, disciple of the great tabla guru Pt. Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Mir presents tabla recitals and regularly accompanies vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers from the Indian tradition. He also performs regularly with musicians from a wide variety of other genres, bringing tabla to Jazz, Chamber Music, Middle-Eastern music, and other contexts. He is continuing his talim with the great Farukhabad grandmaster, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, and Pt. Ashoke Paul. His style has also been enriched by training with Pt. Gopal Mishra and Pt. Suresh Talwalkar in the past as well.

Chinmay Paranjape

Chinmay Paranjape has been learning Indian Classical Vocal for more than 10 years and performing all over the USA. He has been learning tabla from Dr. Amod Dandavate for the past 6 years. He has accompanied vocal and dance artists. Having graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with double majors, he records music for short films and video games.

Ravi Venugopalan

Ravi is a disciple of Pt. Anindo Chatterjee.

Rohan Prabhudesai

Rohan Prabhudesai is a versatile musician, equally adept at Indian and Western classical as well as jazz music. He received training in harmonium from Tulsidas Borkar and Kedar Naphade. He studied classical contemporary composition at NYU Steinhardt and Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and trained in classical piano with Mr. Edwin Lopez, concert master and conductor. Rohan is a finance professional by day.

Shailesh Chirputkar

Shailesh Chirputkar has been playing the harmonium for the past 3 decades. He received his initial training at Gopal Gayan Samaj in Pune and his advanced training from various artists such as Appasaheb Jalgaon and Dr. Arvind Lele. He has accompanied artists in numerous concerts and radio programs. He appreciates music from all over the world and studies its relationship to Indian Classical Music.

Rohan Misra

Rohan is a musician specializing in the Sarangi.

Emcees:
Anna Gao, Camden Kim, Dia Thakkar, Martina Catino

Anna Gao, Camden Kim, and Dia Thakkar are middle schoolers at New Explorations in Science, Technology, and Math in New York City. Martina Catino is a high school student at Hunter College High School in New York City.

Organizations We Love and Support

We asked all the women artists to share the names of up to 3 organizations they love and support. If the music or anything else about this event inspires you to give, we suggest taking a look at the list below and considering supporting one of these causes. Thank you.

Jayashri
- National Park Foundation, The Official Charitable Partner of the National Park Service
- National Public Radio (WNYC), NPR - Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts & Podcasts
- Caring Kind, CaringKind - The Heart of Alzheimer's Caregiving
Camila
- World Wildlife Fund, Get Involved
- Viewcy, Universal Income Creator Fund
- For Artists By Artists, FABA
Anindita
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Ways to Give
- Sewa International, Get Involved
- Pratham USA, Learn More
Devika
- Central Park Conservancy, Preserve New York City's Backyard
- American Heart Association, Ways to Give
- Public Library, Gift of Literacy
Monica
- Akshaya Patra, End Childhood Hunger

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can I expect at this festival?

Indian classical raaga music presentations by nine women artists in collaboration with other artists on various instruments.

2. Can I attend a single performance?

Yes.

3. Can men attend this festival?

Yes. Although the name of this event is "Women's Music Festival", it is open to all. Everyone is welcome to attend and listen to the performers. Among the performing artists, we have women artists who will be accompanied by male artists on tabla, harmonium, sarangi, etc. This is NOT an "ONLY WOMEN" event. Please join us at the Women's Music Festival.

4. Can you share more about the types of tickets?

We have in-person and online tickets for the entire festival, which includes all performances. We have day passes if you wish to attend on any one day. Additionally, we also offer tickets for individual performances. Seniors (age 60 and above) and Youth (under 18 years) attend free. If you feel like exploring this event and do not feel like purchasing a ticket, we understand and have set up a $0 Explorer pass for you! All ticket types are listed here: Get Tickets

5. Why should I attend this event?

There are many reasons to attend this event.

1. Support women artists.
2. Listen to beautiful music.
3. Learn more about Indian Classical Music.
4. Get a glimpse into the musical journey of the performers and how their Gurus have nurtured them.
5. Experience first-hand the amazing impact of listening to the featured artists live.
6. Meet others in the community.
7. Relax and have a good time!

6. How to support women artists?

Let us create a space where women artists feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to create. This event is an opportunity to rally behind women artists and invite them to share their talents—and their beautiful voices—with us.

7. What should I bring with me to the event?

We intend to create a peaceful environment where you can listen to the musical presentations. Please be prepared to relax and listen. We request that you not be rushed. On the weekend of March 28-29, 2026, take time out for yourself and for everyone who worked hard to bring you this experience. Dress comfortably, expect to be seated on the floor or chairs, listen with patience, and receive the divine music coming your way!

8. Can we expect to purchase food at the event?

The event will take place at Chhandayan, 4 W 43rd St, Suite #614-618, New York, NY 10036. We intend to provide snacks, such as dried fruit and nuts, for our guests. You can bring food from home if you wish, or step outside the building to get food. Guests can get food from any of the numerous restaurants in the neighborhood. Note that we have allocated 30 minutes between performances. Please plan to grab a bite and return to your seats as soon as possible.

9. Can you share more about the seating arrangements?

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. We will have backjack chairs on the floor closer to the stage. Additionally, we will have regular chairs.

10. I would like to perform at the Women's Music Festival. What can I do about this?

Thank you for your interest! Please email events@crystal-lighthouse.com regarding this.

11. I would like to volunteer at the Women's Music Festival. Where can I sign up?

Thank you for your interest! Please email events@crystal-lighthouse.com regarding this.

Additional Resources

Credits

Advisors: Pandit Samir Chatterjee, Hidayat Husain Khan

Design: Devyani Seth

Photography & Videography: Joyce Anderson

Angels & Volunteers: Geeta Ahuja, Swapna Kulkarni, Aadi Thakkar, Turjo Khan, Renu Jain, Moon Ghera, Tenzin Tselha, Tenzin Tsering, Vardhini Havaldar

Moon Ghera

Moon Ghera

PJIM Gurukul

Moon Ghera

Women's Music Festival