Madhya Pradesh occupies a special position in the history of
Indian music. The Gwalior gharana is among the most prominent
arbiters of the classical style. Raja Mansingh's patronage of
Dhrupad singers is well known.
A pillar of Hindustani classical music, the great Tansen, one
of the 'nine jewels' of Akbar's court, lies buried in Gwalior.
The memorial to this great musician has a pristine simplicity,
and is built in the early Mughal architectural style. More than
a monument, the Tansen Tomb is a part of Gwalior's living
cultural heritage. It is the venue of the annual Indian
classical festival held here in November-December. Renowned
classical singers of the land regale audiences through five
mesmerizing night-long sessions of the much-loved classical
ragas.
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