Today, this entire circus denoted, in capital letters, as ‘The Annual Music and Dance Season’ is a gigantic pageant of contradictions. On the one hand is the tyranny of quantities and numbers. In a span of some 55 days, from late November to late January, some 350 musicians, dancers, scholars will present over 2,400 performances and lecture-demonstrations at 26 venues, under the aegis of 85 or more organisations, sponsored by almost 200 state, corporate and private agencies. On the other hand, quantity belies quality. Lucky are those who might catch even half-a-dozen high standard kacheris, in an ambience that serves up the Bhairavis, Kalyanis and Karaharapriyas like quick-fix dosas at a fast-food stall.