Bengaluru’s Vijay Prakash and Mahathi mark Dhanteras with music

A tiny wind-up piano bought in Salzburg, Austria, remains one of Vijay Prakash’s favourite musical keepsakes. Wind it up, he says, and it plays a Mozart piece.

For Prakash and his wife, Mahathi Vijay Prakash, Dhanteras includes buying a gold or silver coin and placing it in their mandir. Mahathi says the ritual represents growth and prosperity, alongside a prayer for good health and happy relationships.

The musicians also value their collection of instruments. Mahathi says Prakash looks for instruments rooted in local culture when they travel. Some additions have come from roadside stops while the couple drove across Karnataka for concerts.

Her own favourite is a small manjira-like instrument used in folk and theatrical performances. “Suddenly, you start singing something very local and you just play that,” she says. “You don’t need anything else. It sounds so authentic.”

Prakash, who was born in Mysuru, and Mahathi, who grew up in Mumbai, spent 25 years in Mumbai before moving to Bengaluru. Their Diwali brings together traditions gathered across the country, including Diwali Pahat, when music welcomes the festival early in the morning.

This Dhanteras, their shopping list is for the studio: Prakash is considering software, a keyboard or a microphone, while Mahathi wants new headphones and possibly a microphone.