Aarohi Music Festival returns with a new generation of classical talent
For over two decades, Aarohi – A Festival of Rising Stars has quietly built a reputation as one of Mumbai’s most respected platforms for emerging Indian classical musicians. This year, the festival returns for its 24th edition on May 20 and 21 at the Mini Theatre, Rabindra Natya Mandir, with six young artistes set to carry forward the classical traditions of India. The festival starts at 6pm both evenings and is open to all with free entry.Established in 2002 with the vision of “Catching Them Young”, Aarohi has presented over 138 young musicians to Mumbai audiences, not as students, but as serious concert-ready artists. Over the years, the festival has earned the trust of the city’s classical music community for highlighting artistes at the defining moments of their journey.Six artists, six unique musical journeysThe opening evening on May 20 will feature singer Chaitanya Parab, whose performance has sincerity and emotional depth. “It is a privilege to present Indian classical music on a platform that has consistently supported and celebrated India’s rich musical heritage,” he says.Also performing is santoor maestro Divyansh Srivastava, who will present his first full-length classical santoor recital in Mumbai. A disciple of Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Srivastava represents the Sopori Sufiana Gharana. He shared, “This performance is particularly emotional for me, it allows me to present the musical aesthetics and bass of the Sopori Sufiana Gharana as a proud disciple of Pandit Bhajan Sopori.”The evening concluded with a performance by first generation professional musician, singer Adya Mukherjee. “Indian classical music is deeply connected to my identity and emotions. To be able to pursue this professionally and present it on a platform like Aarohi is incredibly meaningful to me,” she says.Tradition meets youth expressionThe second evening on May 21 will begin with Swati Tiwari, a singer trained in both the Gwalior and Banaras gharanas. She says, “I am very grateful for the opportunities that allow young artists to share the essence and purity of our classical music with discerning audiences.”Flutist Samyak Parashari will bring his contemplative perspective on the flute to the stage. He says, “For me, performing at Aarohi is an opportunity to connect with listeners emotionally through the flute and contribute in my own way to keeping our classical traditions alive for young audiences.” The festival will be concluded by singer Abhed Abhisheki, grandson of Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and son of Shaunak Abhisheki. He says, “I feel extremely honored to be performing at the prestigious Aarohi Mahotsav. This is my first time singing on such a large scale in Mumbai, which is a mix of nervousness and excitement. This is an important milestone, and I am looking forward to giving my best performance.”All six actors will also be co-starring Yeti Bhagwat, Swapnil Bhise, Rohit Dev, Manoj Solanki, Sudhanshu Gharpure and Dnyaneshwar Sonawane.‘Right platform at the right time’What Aarohi has maintained over 24 years is his belief that young musicians flourish not through showmanship, but through meaningful listening and thoughtful platforms. Shashi Vyas of Pancham Nishad, the show’s curator, says, “The vitality of Indian classical music depends on empowering young musicians at the right time. Aarohi was conceived to meet this need – and even after more than two decades, its spirit continues to inspire and resonate.”
Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered an investigation 
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said preliminary laboratory tests conducted at the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale in Kinshasa confirmed the virus in 13 of 20 samples, while further tests are underway to determine the strain. Four of the reported deaths were among confirmed cases.Additional suspected infections have been reported in the provincial capital Bunia. Health officials have warned of a higher risk of further spread due to population movement, urban settings and mining activity in affected areas, the BBC reports. Uganda also confirmed an imported Ebola case linked to DR Congo on Friday. Uganda’s health ministry said a 59-year-old Congolese man, who was admitted to a hospital in Kampala on Monday, died on Thursday in intensive care after testing positive for Ebola. Officials said no local transmission has been detected so far.Dr. Jean Kassia, executive director of Africa CDC, said ‘significant population movement’ between affected areas and neighboring countries made regional coordination essential. The agency has called for joint action with DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and other partners to strengthen monitoring and response measures.The Congolese government has not yet formally announced the outbreak, but is expected to hold a press conference. It has also conducted consultations with neighboring countries and international partners on prevention strategies.Ebola, which was first identified in what is now DR Congo in 1976, is believed to have originated in bats and is spread by direct contact with bodily fluids. According to the World Health Organization, the disease causes severe bleeding, organ failure and has an average mortality rate of about 50%.Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash and internal or external bleeding. There is no proven cure, although supportive treatment may improve the chances of survival.Ituri province remains unstable, with military rule imposed in 2021 amid long-running activity by armed groups including the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces.Ebola outbreaks have occurred 17 times in DR Congo since the virus was first discovered. Nearly 2,300 people died in the country’s deadliest outbreak between 2018 and 2020, while a separate outbreak in Kasai province last year killed 45 people. About 15,000 people have died from Ebola across Africa over the past five decades.
The accused, senior Botany teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare from Pune, Maharashtra, was arrested in Delhi after questioning by the agency. According to the CBI, Mandhare was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 exam process and was appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency (NTA), giving him access to the question papers of Botany and Zoology, news agency ANI reported.Investigators alleged that during April 2026, he mobilized potential NEET candidates through Pune-based Manisha Waghmare, who was already arrested on May 14. The CBI said Mandhare conducted special coaching classes for students at his Pune residence, during which he allegedly exposed several questions from Botany and Zoology and asked the students to note them down in notebooks and textbooks.The agency said most of those questions match the actual NEET-UG 2026 question paper held on May 3 (now cancelled).The arrest comes a day after the CBI said it has arrested PV Kulkarni, a retired chemistry professor in Latur, in the paper leak case. Kulkarni, who spent more than three decades in academia, had joined the NTA as part of the question paper setting panel. The investigators are probing the role of the individuals involved in framing the questions.In the last 24 hours, the CBI said it has conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents, laptops, bank statements and mobile phones. The agency said a detailed analysis of the seized material is underway.So far, nine accused have been arrested in the case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Five accused have already been sent to seven days’ police custody for questioning, while two others arrested in Pune were produced in a local court and later sent to Delhi on transit remand.