Girija is an Indian classical singer of the Banaras gharana. She performs classical and light classical music and has helped elevate the profile of thumri.

Girija Devi was born in Varanasi, India. Her father played the harmonium and taught music, and had Devi take lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five. Devi sings in the Banaras gharana and performs the purabi ang thumri style typical of the tradition, whose status she helped elevate. Her repertoire includes the semi-classical genres kajri, chaiti, and holi and she sings khayal, Indian folk music, and tappa. Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 1989, and received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.

This album is a live experience of the marvelous classical rendition of this great singer. The album is recorded by Suresh Rajgopalan of Surya Sound Studio, Madras. The recording was captured live during the artiste’s performances at the Heritage India Kala Utsav Concerts organized by Sterling Resorts. Recording supervised and edited by Mahesh Babu for Crescendo Music.