INVC NEWS
New Delhi,
As the evening unfolded, audiences were privy to a glimpse of how major Indian dance traditions evolved in various parts of the country. Audiences were treated to a seamless presentation that included 6 dance forms representing the diversity of Indian culture – Bharatanatyam from Southern India, Kathak, preeminently the dance of Northern India, Odissi from the East; Manipuri from the north-east, Kathakalifrom the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula and Chhau which covers a wide swathe of territory in the Eastern states.
Crafted under the artistic direction of Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, the performance started with a Shiva-stuti, a hymnal offering to Lord Shiva, whose dance symbolizes the cosmic cycle of Creation and Destruction. The stuti drew in dancers in pairs representing the 6 dance forms which were then demonstrated individually with exemplary grace.
The performers brought alive the philosophy of Nrityarupa, where all the streams merged in a demonstration of pure dance and melody, symbolic of the spirit behind the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav.
Characteristic of the Indian nation which always rejoices in unison, despite all the cultural social differences, the evening ended in the celebratory tarana when the entire mosaic came together, each part uniting with the other.
This was followed by a confluence of the very best of folk performances from each zonal cultural centre. Audiences were treated to indigenous dance forms such as Dummy Horse, Kud, Karagam and Kavadi, Phag, Nyandimelam, Sambalpuri, Kalbeliya, and Rikampana.
The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav an eight day extravaganza, which is nearing its end, has taken the festive season a notch higher with its food and shopping, tomorrow being the last day of the festival.
One can indulge in dishes prepared by Traditional Master chefs featuring menus from coastal delights to rich and palatable delicacies to delicately appetizing sweets representing a wide variety of Indian cuisines.
The venue boasts of shop-till-you-drop angans with a wide array of arts and crafts like Haveli paintings from Punjab, Rogan artworks from Gujarat, Banaras silk, Kalamkari (hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile), Tanjore paintings and many more.
The eight day festival features 150 art forms, performances by more than 1500 artists; 32 forms of paintings: visual arts; 400 master craftsmen; cuisine by traditional master craftsmen & chefs.
A free entry for all, 10 am to 10 pm festival features maidani kalakar everyday with evening stage performances with folk & celebrity artists from 6p.m. to 10 p.m. at the IGNCA, 11, Mansingh Road.
This festival has been envisioned as a sneak peek into the myriad dimensions of our cultural traditions and to revive pride in being an Indian. The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is definitely going to be an affair to remember and one that the nation will look forward to every year.
