Some experiences don’t just end when the music stops. Long after the lights are out, they remain with you. The first-ever Coke Studio Bharat LIVE in Delhi was one such evening: warm, vibrant, emotional, and unforgettable. Even if we aren’t hardcore music lovers who follow every album or attend concerts regularly, Coke Studio Bharat is something most of us instinctively love.
Coke Studio Bharat LIVE Made Musical History In Delhi
Over the years, it has become a quiet but powerful part of Indian culture. Its songs don’t just trend for a week, they grow on you, live in your playlists, and resurface years later in memories and conversations. Every time a new track drops, it spreads like wildfire. People hum it without realising, reels start flooding social media, and friends send links saying, “Listen to this, you’ll love it.”
What makes Coke Studio Bharat truly special is how it brings folk music into the modern world, preserving its soul while giving it a sound today’s listeners connect with. It respects tradition while speaking the language of the present. That’s rare. And that’s why, when Coke Studio Bharat decided to go LIVE, it felt monumental.
This year, Coke Studio Bharat made history by going live for the very first time. Delhi hosted the first edition, followed by Guwahati. I was present at the Delhi show, and even before the performances started, the atmosphere at the NSIC Grounds in Okhla was thrilling. The crowd, the sound, the lights, and the visuals all blended together perfectly, and the energy was amazing. It didn’t feel like just another concert. It felt like a cultural celebration. People didn’t want to leave. Everyone wanted to stay in that space where music, emotion and community flowed freely.
Not Your Usual Concert Experience
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What made this evening truly different was its format. At most concerts, you’re there to watch one artist perform for a couple of hours. Coke Studio Bharat LIVE was nothing like that. Multiple artists took the stage, each bringing a unique sound and energy. There was never a dull moment. The lineup featured Shreya Ghoshal, Aditya Rikhari, Rashmeet Kaur, Divyam and Khwaab. Together, they created an evening packed with songs that the crowd knew by heart.
Rashmeet Kaur’s performance enhanced the evening by fusing modern music with folk elements. The distinct energies that Divyam and Khwaab contributed made the evening feel both distinct and exquisitely harmonious.
One of the most impressive things was how deeply the audience connected to the music. The audience sang nearly all of Aditya Rikhari’s songs. It was impossible to miss the love people have for his songs. His fandom was loud, passionate and completely in sync with him. He even gave fans a private and exclusive glimpse of an unreleased Coke Studio Bharat song.
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The Moment Everyone Was Waiting For
Then came Shreya Ghoshal, the star of the evening and the performer that everyone had been looking forward to. The energy changed as soon as she entered the stage. All at once, there was awe, excitement, and silence. She began her set with “Sun Raha Hai” from Aashiqui 2, and it felt like the entire ground was collectively holding its breath.
Her voice live is something else entirely. Pure, emotional, and deeply soothing. The tunes are still playing in my head today. What truly sets Shreya apart is not just her singing, even when she speaks, it feels musical. That’s a rare gift, and witnessing it live felt incredibly special.
When Shreya brought Rashmeet Kaur, Aditya Rikhari, Divyam, and Khwaab together on stage for a medley of well-known Coke Studio Bharat songs, it was one of the most lovely moments of the evening. With artists collaborating, genres blending, and the audience fully engrossed, it seemed like a true celebration of the platform.
At the end of the evening, nobody wanted to return home. The outside world appeared dead in comparison to the energy inside the venue. Coke Studio Bharat LIVE was the ideal way for Delhiites to kick off 2026. This is just the start of a live musical journey that will be remembered for years.
Cover Image Courtesy: Shreya Ghoshal/Instagram
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