{"id":1040,"date":"2026-08-24T15:14:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmseducation.org\/celesta\/?page_id=1040"},"modified":"2026-08-25T16:46:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T11:16:32","slug":"cms-celesta-international-2026-grand-inauguration-in-lucknow","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cmseducation.org\/celesta\/cms-celesta-international-2026-grand-inauguration-in-lucknow\/","title":{"rendered":"CMS Celesta International 2026: Grand Inauguration in Lucknow"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Celesta International 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Day 1: A Dastan of Nazakat, Tehzeeb and Harmony<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cThere are some places that do not merely host a celebration; they become part of its story.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>

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On <\/span>22<\/b>nd<\/b> August 2026<\/b>, Lucknow did just that as the <\/span>four-day Celesta International 2026<\/b>, <\/span>organised by CMS Aliganj Campus I<\/b>, opened with <\/span>Nazakat <\/span><\/i>at the <\/span>World Unity Convention Centre, CMS Kanpur Road<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

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With nearly <\/span>500 students and team leaders<\/b> from <\/span>Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and different parts of India<\/b>, alongside <\/span>music experts from Namibia, Kenya and Myanmar<\/b>, the global cultural olympiad brought together young talent and cultural voices from across borders. Yet, at its heart, the opening remained unmistakably <\/span>Lakhnawi<\/span><\/i>\u2014 gracious, soulful and steeped in <\/span>tehzeeb<\/span><\/i>, which defines the soul of our<\/span> \u2018Nawabon ka Shehar\u2019<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>

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An Evening Draped in ‘Awadhi’ Elegance<\/b><\/h3>

The inaugural celebration unfolded as a luminous <\/span>Sham-e-Awadh<\/span><\/i>, evoking the many textures of the city that once housed the <\/span>Nawabs<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>Chikankari <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Zardozi<\/span><\/i>, Folk Music and <\/span>Shayari<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Baithak <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Dastangoi<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Kathak <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Qawwali <\/span><\/i>came together to create an evening that was as much a cultural experience as it was an introduction to Celesta.<\/span><\/p>

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The ceremony was <\/span>formally inaugurated by our Hon\u2019ble Chief Guest Ustad Kamal Sabri, Global Ambassador of Sarangi and Indian Classical Music<\/b>, who lit the ceremonial lamp in the presence of <\/span>Shri Manish Tripathi<\/b>, <\/span>celebrated fashion designer and CMS alumnus <\/b>known for designing the attire of Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya temple; <\/span>Himanshu Bajpai, renowned storyteller, author and journalist;<\/b> CMS Managing Director Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon; and Mrs Shivani Singh, Principal of CMS Aliganj Campus I and Convenor of Celesta International 2026.<\/span><\/p>

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The ceremonial moment led into the grand unveiling of the Celesta logo, woven into \u2018<\/span>Dastan-e-Awadh\u2019<\/i><\/b>\u2014 a celebration of the region\u2019s history, harmony and artistic inheritance.<\/span><\/p>

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The opening came alive with the evocative strains of the sarangi as Ustad Kamal Sabri filled the auditorium with music that seemed to carry the soul of <\/span>Awadh <\/span><\/i>within it. His performance was not merely heard; it stayed with us, much like the lingering cadence of a well-told <\/span>ghazal<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>

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The spirit of storytelling found its own vibrant expression when Himanshu Bajpai joined the celebrations with a spirited dastangoi, offering delightful tales from Lucknow, in his <\/span>\u2018UP wala andaaz\u2019<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>

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A Grand Cultural Welcome<\/b><\/h3>

The participating teams were welcomed through <\/span>\u2018Nazakat-e-Isteqbaal\u2019<\/i><\/b>,<\/span><\/i> a graceful welcome dance that set the tone for an evening shaped by elegance and warmth.<\/span><\/p>

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This was followed by<\/span> \u2018Saanjh-e-Awadh\u2019,<\/i><\/b> a presentation tracing the legacy of <\/span>Awadh<\/span><\/i>\u2019s last <\/span>Nawab<\/span><\/i>; <\/span>\u2018Ibaadat\u2019,<\/i><\/b> a soulful Sufiana rendition; and an <\/span>all-faith prayer<\/b> that reflected Lucknow\u2019s enduring <\/span>Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb<\/span><\/i> \u2014 a cultural ethos rooted in coexistence, mutual respect and shared humanity.<\/span><\/p>

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The evening moved seamlessly from the local to the universal with <\/span>\u2018Rhythms of Humanity\u2019<\/i><\/b>, a world-unity prayer, and <\/span>\u2018Symphony Beyond Borders\u2019,<\/i><\/b> a vibrant fusion of Western and Indian musical traditions.<\/span><\/p>

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Together, these performances transformed the inaugural ceremony into a celebration of both cultural pride and cultural exchange, earning sustained applause from an enthralled audience.<\/span><\/p>

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A Shared Vision of Unity<\/b><\/h3>

Welcoming the students and team leaders from India and abroad, <\/span>CMS Founder-Director Dr Bharti Gandhi spoke of the larger purpose behind the International Cultural Olympiad<\/b> \u2014 to nurture in children the values of unity, tolerance, love and peace.<\/span><\/p>

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CMS Managing Director Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon described Celesta International as a celebration of diversity, creativity, cultural pride, environmental sensitivity and global friendship<\/b>. She highlighted the opportunity for students from different countries to express the idea of \u2018Unity in Diversity\u2019 through creative and knowledge-enhancing competitions, while introducing the world to the heritage and culture of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.<\/span><\/p>

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For <\/span>Mrs Shivani Singh, Principal of CMS Aliganj Campus I and Convenor of Celesta International 2026<\/b>, the Olympiad carries an equally important human purpose \u2014 to <\/span>develop young talent while nurturing their human and spiritual outlook<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

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Insightful Conversations Before the Celebration<\/b><\/h3>

The day had begun with an engaging press conference, where participating students and team leaders interacted with journalists and spoke candidly about their expectations from Celesta International.<\/span><\/p>

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Students from Ayoma Dance Academy, Sri Lanka, expressed their enthusiasm at having a platform to showcase their talent and sharpen their abilities. Students from Sabhyata Pathshala, Lumbini, Nepal, described the Olympiad as a meaningful initiative for giving creative direction to the future generation.<\/span><\/p>

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Meanwhile, students from Global Indian International School, Bangkok, Thailand, looked forward to giving their best across the Celesta competitions.<\/span><\/p>

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Across these conversations, one sentiment resonated strongly: Celesta was being seen not simply as a competition, but as an opportunity to learn, perform, connect and build friendships across cultures.<\/span><\/p>

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In the music of the sarangi, the cadence of dastangoi, the grace of Kathak, the resonance of qawwali and ghazal, and the warmth of a city famed for its adaab, Lucknow offered the visiting world something more enduring than spectacle. It offered a way of being together. Here are a few glimpses\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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