Celebrating the spirit of World Music Day, the Maharashtra Department of Cultural Affairs hosted the Maharashtra Radio Festival 2025 along with the first-ever Maharashtra Asha Radio Gaurav Awards at the Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium in Mumbai on Saturday.

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The event saw Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis take centre stage, not just as a guest, but also briefly as a singer. In a light-hearted moment, Fadnavis sang a few lines of the iconic song ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar’ alongside music legend Asha Bhosle, drawing cheers from the audience.

Speaking at the function, CM Fadnavis reflected on the cultural importance of radio in India’s journey.
“Expressing through audio-visual modes is easy because it is visible,” he said. “But radio allowed people to express everything even without being seen. When there was only 1D—only music—it gave a voice to our emotions and helped shape our cultural heritage.”

The highlight of the event was the launch of the Maharashtra Asha Radio Gaurav Awards, aimed at honouring excellence in the field of radio broadcasting. An emotional Asha Bhosle expressed her gratitude for having the award named after her.

“Today is the day of music. An award named after me has been launched and it will honour those doing outstanding work in the world of radio,” she said.

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The festival celebrated radio’s enduring legacy and its role in preserving India’s musical and cultural traditions even in today’s tech-driven world.