Benares Promises

When I started my tabla training, one of the most important rhythmic instruments of classical Indian music, it was a great desire to learn from my teacher Pt Kishan Maharaj, who is not alive at the moment. At the first time I came across with him, he told me that he was looking for a student who could stay at least 6 months for the lessons. Starting with the promise to my teacher that "I will try to come every year for a month to take lessons", the journey of Benares is continuing for 15 years.

These meetings are the musical and visual sharing of the journeys at Benares (Varanasi) between 2003-2018 to learn how to play the tabla and take photos.

Ömer Orhun was born in 1960 in Istanbul. Between the years 1978 and 1982, he was graduated from Mimar Sinan University at the Art Major and between 1999 and 2001 he took his master degree from Yıldız Technical University at the Museology Department. He is currently teaching assistant at the Faculty of Art and Design at Yıldız Technical University.

*Benares (Varanasi- the oldest name Kashi): the holy city of North India, according to some people, it is the oldest settlement in the world, the hometown of God Shiva; In Hindu beliefs “the place to die”; mostly be mentioned with its musicians, its music teachers and its concerts.