Varanasi and Meerut—she learnt from Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan of Rampur gharana, Ustad Rahat Ali Khan of Patiala gharana and Girija Devi of the Banaras gharana. By the time Awasthi was 19 ...

The ancient city of Banaras (now Varanasi) has evolved over the centuries ... a poetess and a classical vocalist of Banaras Gharana, who developed the poetic essence of her gayaki.