01
Classical Music
Hindustani and Carnatic vocal and instrumental traditions — sitar, sarod, veena, sarangi, flute, mridangam, and more.
02 · Programs
Nine program formatsshowcasing India’s living heritage
Every SPIC MACAY program — whether a one-hour campus lec-dem or a week-long convention — draws from these nine modules. Each module is anchored by living masters and delivered in close, classroom-scale settings.
02
Classical Dance
The eight classical dance forms of India — Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya, and Kathakali.
03
Folk Arts & Crafts
Regional folk music, dance, and the traditional crafts that anchor India's living heritage.
04
Yoga & Meditation
Naad Yog, Hatha Yog, and meditation modules integrated with sound — wellbeing as a form of inquiry.
05
Talks
Conversations with eminent personalities on art, philosophy, science, and the inward journey.
06
Theatre
Workshops and performances exploring Indian theatrical traditions, from classical Sanskrit drama to modern stagecraft.
07
Cinema Classics
Curated screenings of films from India's cinematic heritage — Ray, Ghatak, Sen, Benegal, and beyond.
08
Holistic Food
Modules on traditional, sustainable food practices rooted in regional Indian wisdom.
09
Heritage Walks
Guided walks through living heritage sites — architecture, history, and the stories embedded in our cities.
Special programs
Beyond the lec-dem.
A few flagship initiatives that extend the work — from the youngest learners to month-long residencies with a master.
Aarambh
For pre-school · ages 3–5
Introduces classical music through body movement — stomping, marching, swaying — alongside the seven svaras, basic yoga, and naad yog (sound-based meditation). Developed under the close guidance of Dr. Kiran Seth.
Gurukul Anubhav
Scholarship · since 1986
Students live with a guru for a month during summer vacations — observing the ethos of the guru-shishya tradition and a way of life dedicated to single-minded devotion. A 40-year-old programme.
International Convention
Annual flagship · 11th edition · IIT Kharagpur, May 2026
A week of ashram-like immersion: classical music & dance, lec-dems, workshops, naad yog, theatre, cinema, folk arts, crafts, heritage, and environmental interactions — all under one roof.
How it’s delivered
The lec-dem —our core format.
Each module above is most often delivered as a lecture-demonstration — a session where a master performs and simultaneously explains: where this raga comes from, what this mudra means, why this rhythm works.
The format was pioneered by SPIC MACAY in the late 1970s and remains its defining contribution to arts education. It dispels the misconception that classical arts are inaccessible — and gives students a way in, on their first encounter.
On American campuses, lec-dems happen in classrooms, auditoriums, and informal student gatherings — hosted by SPIC MACAY chapters at universities across the country.
Bring a program to your campus
Host an event, start a chapter.
If you’re a student organization, a department, or an individual student who wants to bring SPIC MACAY to your university — write to us. We’ll help you scope it from there.