PATNA, Oct. 18 -- For decades, autumn in ancient river city, Patna, was marked not merely by the glow of earthen lamps and shimmering pandals, but by an intoxicating nocturnal cadence. Long before amplified soundscapes dominated festival streets, Dussehra in Patna belonged unconditionally to classical maestros. Legends like Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and Begum Akhtar once waited eagerly for Bihar's puja calendar to unfurl. Across aristocratic courtyards, neighborhood pandals, and sprawling lawns in Patna City, all-night jalsas held rapt audiences spellbound until dawn broke across the Ganges. "These gatherings were the ultimate crucible for legendary performers seeking the blessings of Bihar's discerning rasikas," recalls Ravindra Pratap Singh, an 88-year old retired senior state government official. Those crisp autumn nights formed a musical sanctuary. Renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Ajit Pradhan, whose roots connect to the Gaya Gharana through his mother, remembers a ten-day calendar where families took daytime naps to prepare for dusk-to-dawn soirees. Evenings began around 6:00pm with brass bands and light melodies, but by 9:00pm, classical stalwarts claimed the stage, playing into the mist until 3:00pm, said Dr. Pradhan. "In neighbourhoods like Hardinge Park, Langartoli, Bailey Road, Gardanibagh, and Marufganj - sustained by generous patrons - an invitation represented supreme artistic validation. Any artist left out felt their riyaz was lacking," Dr. Pradhan notes. It was an egalitarian passion that crossed social divides. During his MBBS days, Dr. Pradhan took a train from Ranchi just to hear Ustad Vilayat Khan play. The local rickshaw-puller who ferried him refused the fare, choosing instead to step inside the auditorium to listen. While urban expansion and fast-paced commercial entertainment gradually pushed these nocturnal assemblies into cultural memory, a concerted renaissance is underway. Dr. Pradhan has spearheaded this crusade since 2009 through his Navras School of Performing Arts, curating more than 150 concerts to keep the city's artistic heartbeat alive. Now, public patronage is matching civic passion. The state government is revitalising cultural platforms like Rabindra Bhawan and SPIC MACAY, alongside festival programming. "There is inevitably change according to time, Pranav Kumar, Secretary of the Department of Art, Culture and Youth, told HT. "While classical music has had its vital place and presence, our primary mission now is to revive our rich cultural traditions and present them better than before. Our vision is truly one of 'music beyond boundaries," he said. This philosophy was on full display during the Dussehra Mahotsav at Gandhi Maidan, alongside the Sharadotsav at Hari Uppal Auditorium. Across the city, modern crowds embraced dynamic musical showcases, pure sitar recitals, soulful ragas, and dramatic Purulia Chhau performances depicting Mahishasura Mardini. By harmonising historical lineage with evolving public tastes, Patna is rediscovering its soul-proving that its devotion to melody remains as enduring as the river alongside it....