Folk dance of Assam

Just finished the Assam part of our twenty day North East tour of India and what stands out in that leg was the cultural program that we attended on the second day. 

What I found good about it was its rustic touch keeping all the original folk dances as it is. 

No keyboards or electronic trappings but sticking to the original instruments of peti (Harmonium) tabla, flute and cymbals. 

There was even a scene where the girls remove one of their hair adornment and use it to produce music by blowing on it. 

I remember this being used as part of the musical score in the old Hindi songs especially by S D Burman.     

All the performers kept a smiling face and there was lot of energy enthused when they performed.  

This girl performed a solo dance with some classical dance moves. 

The famous bamboo dance was performed last and all were in awe at the ease with which the girls hopped in between those fast moving bamboos. I listed it first in the 14 minute video that I made. 

  

The harvest dance was very peppy and it was nice to see the guys jumping around with their axe and sickle. 

This boy on the flute was multitalented and sang some of Bhupen Hazarika songs.

During the introductory song, Prasenjit Duarah showed us the use of all the different forms of the drums. 

Throughout the program these five boys provided the music with perfection. 

The tribal dance was done by a different set of girls who joined in the chorus singing. 

The audience were also invited to join in, and they did a good job once they got the rhythm of it. 

The thali dance had me really baffled as I kept wondering how the thali did not fall off. 

Some of the audience showed their appreciation by speaking a few words after the program. 

All in all it was a good and entertaining program and my suggestion is that it is something one should not miss if you are in Kaziranga.

Next blog: The animals of Kaziranga 

Kala Ghoda Festival Part 2

As mentioned in the previous blog, the David Sassoon Library is right opposite Kala Ghoda. The building  was erected for the Bombay Mechanics Institution  in 1870  (originally founded way back in 1847)  

The Venetian Gothic styled structure using yellow malad stone was completed in 1870 

the old and the new

As you enter you see the statue of Sassoon

The library is on the first floor. Inside I found this wooden spiral staircase which is a testimony to the proper maintenance of the place.  

Once you are inside the courtyard you realize what a quaint little peaceful place it is with tall trees and  greenery all around.  I spied the Elphinstone college on one side 

It was in this courtyard that the children of Little Angels School put up their skit and the Lezim as a part of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.

Neish Singh started off by playing the tabla, followed by Deeptanshu Thakkar who gave a good performance on the keyboard. 

This was followed by the Lezim. Taking the space constraint into consideration, the boys did very well and managed to keep up the pace with the beat. 

They say that if you want to keep your city clean, then start educating the children, and it becomes more effective when there is support from the parents. 

The skit “Swach Bharat” was entertaining as well as educative. 

Highlighting the different possibilities in which a place could get dirty was a good idea as the children will always remember it. 

The parents and the audience were very appreciative of the program. 

In the first picture I purposely kept the BEST bus in the frame as I was/am always fascinated by their efficiency and service.  From the first electric tram car in 1907, it has come a long way.

Did you know that BEST buses are only equipped with those rubber bulb air pressure horns (and not the high decibel fancy electronic ones)

So next time when you are on the road (driving in Mumbai) and you hear that Pom Pom behind you, then you can be assured that it is a BEST bus. 

    

Kalpataru A Musical

Once in a way you get to see a good play, and if it is a musical, then nothing like it. Kalpataru is an adaptation of an ancient Kannada folk tale which was put across in an interesting manner.

The play in Hindi was put up at Symbiosis Auditorium, Pune on 24th (there was a show held in Mumbai the previous day) 

What I liked best about the play was that it was performed by school children. They had no inhibitions and performed with ease. The flawless performance was an indication of the number of rehearsals that they must have gone through.

The usual story tellers that you see in Marathi plays were present here too in the form of Chota seth and Mota seth. 

To make it interesting they have mixed a little bit of the modern, like the king sitting on the throne taking selfies 

Even though I have a lot of video footage, I made a short video of the interesting parts  which runs to about six minutes and uploaded it on YouTube.  

Special mention should be made about the singers and the accompanying tabla and peti (Harmonium)

Another thing that impressed me was that there were no photographers running around blocking the view and there were no annoying flashes. So I too put up my tripod in one corner and managed to capture some good pictures. 

The costume, the lighting and the music were perfect which goes to say that the funding from Flowering Tree, Inc was properly utilized.

Proof of a good performance is a standing ovation at the final curtain call. 

Edit on 3rd May
Added one more short video today.