By Our Staff ReporterÂ
Dehradun, 2 Nov: The sixth day of the Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023 on Wednesday dawned with the captivating Virasat Sadhana program, marking a day of rich cultural experiences and artistic brilliance.
Commencing the day was a Kathak dance performance, presented by the renowned ‘Abhyas Group’, held at the Heritage venue.
Adding an international flavour to the festival, artists from South Africa graced the Heritage stage and presented a mesmerising Jugalbandi, a fusion of Indian and South African dance traditions. The cultural tapestry continued to unfold with a scintillating presentation of Indian classical music by the accomplished Kaushiki Chakraborty at the Virasat venue.
The Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023 has proven to be a significant platform for school children to exhibit their talents. Participants enthralled the audience with their exceptional dance performances.
In the dance category, school and university students showcased their talents, wowing the audience with a variety of classical and contemporary performances. Notable participants included Kriti Yadav of Graphic Era University, Shrishti Joshi of Doon University, Pakshila Verma of Ghunghru Kathak Music College, Ritvi Arya of Doon International, Nandani Bist of New Doon Blossoms School, Ananya Singh of Kendriya Vidyalaya, ONGC, Samridhi Nautiyal of Dehradun National Academy of Defence, Aishwarya Pokhriyal of Heritage School North Campus, Tamanna Rawat of Scholars’ Hub Defence Institute, Arpita Thapli of PYDS Learning Academy, Preksha Mittal of Doon Global School, Devyanshi Chauhan of Modern Public School, Avni Gupta of Delhi Public School, Dehradun, Himanshi of The Doon Presidency School, Premnagar, Ojaswini Bhatt of Social Baluni Public School, Anushka Chauhan of Hill Foundation School, and Molashree Rana of Flyfot Public School.
Ghanshyam, the organiser of Virasat Sadhana, honoured the participants with certificates, providing them with a well-deserved boost of encouragement.
The cultural programme for the day commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the guests, including Dr Nishat Mishra, Dean, UPES; Anand Bardhan, IAS; Raja Randhir Singh, Interim President of the Olympic Council of Asia; and RK Singh, General Secretary of REACH Virasat, along with other distinguished members.
The first presentation featured the ‘Abhyas Group’, which enthralled the audience with a delightful performance. The presentation included Ganpati Vandana by Krishna Mohan Maharaj, Darbari Kathak dance in a royal court setting, a dance performance on Ghazal, a Tarana, and a Sufi Kalam, featuring ‘Ameer Chhap Tilak’ by Khusrau. Meenu Garu, Heena Bhasin, Jaya Pathak, Nidhi Bhardwaj, Neha Bhagat, Devika Dixit and Akshika Syal showcased their remarkable skills. Pandit Krishna Mohan Maharaj, belonging to the prestigious Kalka Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow, led the ‘Abhyas’ group, an association dedicated to art, culture, and social welfare.
The second performance of the day featured the Tribhangi Dance Theatre, a dance ensemble hailing from South Africa. Their energetic performance celebrated the long-standing African-Indian cultural relationship, with Priya Naidu, Teamletso Khalane, Caroline Govender, Montusi Motseko, Tibaho Mogotsi and Solomon Skosana, skilfully choreographed by event Director Jaysperi Moopen.
The work of Tribhangi Dance Theatre continues to challenge preconceived notions of Indian dance in the South African context, blending various dance styles in an intercultural dialogue that promotes nation-building and social cohesion while respecting and showcasing diverse cultures. Under the visionary leadership of Jaysperi Moopen, Tribhangi Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company committed to creating and performing original South African choreography. Their primary focus is on creating new work and nurturing the talents of dancers and collaborators in the creative process. The company firmly believes that art significantly contributes to human, social, and economic development, and their artists are actively defining their identity within the South African context, blending elements of Bharatanatyam, African, and contemporary dance.
Despite secondary migration to Britain from newly independent countries such as Uganda and Kenya, many South Asians chose to make South Africa their home, with approximately 1.3 million people of South Asian heritage now residing in the country. The fusion of these cultural influences, as exemplified by Tribhangi Dance Theatre, goes beyond mere entertainment, leaving a lasting impact and positive energy.
Artistic Director Jayaspery Moopen views the company’s mission as an exploration and reimagining of what Indian dance can be. The artists, rooted in both Indian and African heritages, bring their mastery of traditional and contemporary dance forms to the stage.
The third presentation of the cultural programme featured Kaushiki Chakraborty, who began her performance with Raga Yaman Kalyan. Accompanied by Murad Ali on Sarangi, Ishan Ghosh on Tabla, Paromita Mukherjee on Harmonium, and Aditi Bacheti and Srishti Kala on Tanpura, Kaushiki delivered a captivating rendition of Indian classical music.
The festival also featured the accomplished tabla player, Shubh, who hails from a family deeply rooted in music. As the grandson of tabla maestro Kishan Maharaj and the son of the renowned Kathak dancer Vijay Shankar, Shubh inherited a rich musical legacy. He commenced his tabla journey at a tender age under the guidance of his maternal grandfather, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, and later joined the traditional lineage of Shri Kanthe Maharaj.
The Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2023, taking place from October 27 to November 10, has emerged as a vibrant platform for art, culture, and music enthusiasts.
