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Grammy-winning violinist leads tribute to ‘Vande Mataram’ in Seattle
The Carnatic violinist performed alongside students of his Swara Yoga Ensemble at the Indian Consulate in Seattle.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 13, Aug 2026
- 17:00 EDT
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Ganesh Rajagopalan and his students performing / X/ @IndiainSeattle
Grammy Award-winning violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan and his students performed “Vande Mataram” at the Indian Consulate in Seattle.
The performance, held ahead of India’s 80th Independence Day, featured Rajagopalan and students of the Swara Yoga Ensemble marking 150 years of the iconic patriotic anthem.
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Vande Mataram @ Violin Symphony in Seattle!
— India In Seattle (@IndiainSeattle) August 13, 2026
THANK renowned Grammy Award-winning violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan Ji and his students of Swara Yoga Ensemble for curating this musical master piece at the Indian Consulate premises on the occasion of 80th Independence Day of India.… pic.twitter.com/lDW3pbsojp
Sharing a glimpse of the performance on X, the Consulate General of India in Seattle thanked Rajagopalan and his students “for curating this musical masterpiece” at its premises and said the event celebrated “music, mentorship and the spirit of India.”
The 2026 Independence Day celebrations in India will mark a historic moment as the national song Vande Mataram is sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time.
As this year marks 150 years of the national song, which significantly contributed to mobilizing people during the freedom struggle it will be performed upon the Prime Minister’s arrival, after which he will unfurl the national flag and deliver his traditional address to the nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the 80th Independence Day celebrations on August 15. This year, young students and members of Gen Z will have enhanced representation at the ceremony, with student achievers positioned on the ramparts.
The Seattle performance also reflected Rajagopalan’s longstanding connection to the Seattle-area Indian classical music community. He moved to Bellevue, Washington, in 2015 and has been involved in teaching and promoting Carnatic music in the Pacific Northwest.
Rajagopalan is also a member of Shakti, the Indo-jazz fusion group founded by guitarist John McLaughlin. He joined the group in 2019, becoming part of a lineup that has included musicians such as tabla player Zakir Hussain, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan and percussionist V. Selvaganesh.
Shakti won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 2024 for “This Moment,” marking a major international recognition for the group’s blend of Indian classical music and jazz.
The group was nominated for two awards at the 2026 Grammys – Best Global Music Album for “Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)” and Best Global Music Performance for “Shrini’s Dream (Live).”
Rajagopalan has also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Indian music.
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