The Hindu : New Delhi News : “Bharat Utsav” celebrates 60 years of Independence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

“Bharat Utsav” celebrates 60 years of Independence

Staff Reporter

Cultural programme re-enacts the saga of freedom struggle

- Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

National spirit: Artistes performing at “Bharat Utsav”, organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Delhi, in the Capital on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The heroic saga of the Indian freedom struggle was re-enacted in a colourful, vibrant cultural programme, “Bharat Utsav”, held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday evening to celebrate 60 years of Independence.

Staged before Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit among others, the 75-minute programme brought to the fore the valour of Indian freedom fighters with the help of traditional story-tellers or “katha vaachaks” from across the country.

Audience

Nearly 700 artistes, including Palash Sen of the Euphoria band, participated in the show that held the audience spellbound through some riveting though recorded music. As the singers lip-synced and the musicians artificially ran their fingers over the instruments, many were left wondering why the music was not live. But the dancers more than made up for that with their scintillating performances which were well appreciated, especially by hundreds of school children who occupied the higher tiers of the stadium.

The show began with a fusion of Vande Mataram and the traditional Langa song -- “Des mane pyare lago des” (I love my country) -- in which Cherri dancers with fire along with Charkula dancers with many layered diyas on their heads livened up the stage. Adding to the effect were the Raas dancers of Manipur who gracefully built up the tempo of the Utsav along with Badhai and Bhavai dancers.

This was followed by `Mukti Gatha’, in which a narration on the country’s history during the period of turmoil, subjugation, fight for freedom and victory was followed by folk songs from different parts of the country that had during the days of struggle kept the people informed and incited passions for the motherland.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi