Munish Sood
Mandi
The historic Seri Manch Pavilion witnessed an unforgettable spiritual and musical spectacle as celebrated devotional singer Hansraj Raghuwanshi headlined the sixth and final cultural evening of the International Mahashivratri Festival. The grand finale drew thousands of devotees and music lovers, transforming the heart of Mandi into a sea of chants, devotion, and rhythmic celebration.
Performing barefoot — a gesture symbolic of his spiritual grounding and reverence for Lord Shiva — Raghuwanshi established an extraordinary connection with the audience from the very first note. He opened the evening with thunderous invocations of “Bam Bam Bhole,” instantly electrifying the atmosphere. What followed was an uninterrupted 1 hour and 25 minutes of pure devotional energy, with no pauses, no theatrics — just music, faith, and a seamless bond with the crowd.
The star singer enthralled the gathering with his most celebrated devotional hits, including “Laagi Lagan Shankara,” “Shiv Sama Rahe,” “Oonchi Oonchi Waadi,” “Parvati Boli Shankar Se,” “Ganga Kinare,” and “Shambhoo Re.” Each rendition was met with roaring applause as chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoed across the historic venue. His chartbuster “Mera Bhola Hai Bhandari” further intensified the spiritual fervour, with thousands swaying in devotion rather than mere entertainment.
Raghuwanshi’s simplicity, powerful vocals, and deep-rooted pahadi essence elevated the evening beyond a routine concert. His ability to blend contemporary devotional music with traditional spiritual depth created a rare atmosphere where faith and festivity merged seamlessly. The Seri Manch Pavilion reverberated with collective energy as devotees sang along, many describing the performance as the most memorable cultural night of this year’s festival.
The grand finale was graced by Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla as the Chief Guest, underscoring the significance of the occasion. The Governor lauded the festival as a proud symbol of Himachal’s spiritual and cultural identity and appreciated the district administration and organising committee for successfully hosting the week-long international event.
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present on the occasion. He was accompanied by several BJP MLAs from Mandi district, including Rakesh Jamwal, Puran Chand Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dalip Thakur, Anil Sharma, and Vinod Kumar. Their presence added political prominence to the cultural celebration, and they were warmly welcomed by the enthusiastic gathering.
The International Mahashivratri Festival, deeply embedded in Mandi’s centuries-old traditions, celebrates Lord Shiva through elaborate rituals, temple processions led by Madhorai, and grand cultural evenings. The 2026 edition concluded on a high note, with Hansraj Raghuwanshi’s spiritually immersive performance leaving an indelible mark on the audience.
As the final chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” filled the night sky over Mandi, the curtain fell on a festival that once again reaffirmed the town’s identity as “Chhoti Kashi” — a land where devotion, culture, and community come together in timeless harmony
