The world of Indian classical music is celebrating the eightieth birthday of one of its most celebrated stars -- the sitar maestro, Ravi Shankar.

Special performances are being held today at his house in Delhi 1300G to mark the occassion.

Ravi Shankar has won great acclaim for his skill with the sitar in India but he has also acheived international fame for introducing Indian classical music to western audiences, most famously through his collaboration in the sixties with the Beatles.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service