Agra, Feb 20 : The 10-day annual festival, "Taj Mahotsav", dedicated to promotion of art and crafts and celebration of local heritage and culture, commenced at the Shilpgram, near Agra on Thursday.

On Friday, the second day, Popular Sufi singer Kailash Kher enchanted the audience during the on-going `Taj Mahotsava 2009' here.

Organised by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the Taj Mahotsav 2009, started on February 18 and will last till February 27.

Taj Mahotsav is an annual fest is held at Shilpgram, a village dedicated to arts and crafts.

Kailash Kher's entranced the audience with his high-pitched rendering of devotional music at the function.

The function has attracted a large number of people.

"I really felt good after listening to Kailash Kher. I would say that he has a distinct style, which is very different from everyone," said on of the audience.

Kher said that he was happy with the Sufi music gaining popularity among present day youth.

"There was a time when the people used to listen even vulgar songs. The thinking of the people has now changed and I think it's a very good sign. Sufi music has now gained popularity and is being recognised. Because of that everyone is trying at least one spiritual song," Kher said.

Taj Mahotsava festival is a tribute to the legendary master craftsmen and artists in visual and performing arts.

It renders an apt platform to showcase traditional cultural heritage of Mughal era through such as elephants, camels and varieties of drummers, trumpeters etc.

Taj Mahotsava showcase folk music and dances of Bundelkhand, `Nautanki' (theatre), `Sapera' dances of Rajasthan, Lavani (dramatised folklore narration) of Maharashtra, Kathakali of Kerala and numerous other folk dances.

As for handicrafts and novelties, the entire Shilpgram becomes a colourful market of antiques, woodwork and ivory work.

Exquisite crafts like marble inlays, woodcarvings from Saharanpur, brass and other metal-ware from Moradabad, handmade carpets of Badohi, the blue pottery of Khurja, the Chikan fabric art of Lucknow and the silk of Banaras are exhibited during the Taj Mahotsava. (ANI)