Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: Offering a unique opportunity to the civil society of the winter capital to enjoy the magic of earthy rhythms of rare traditional music and dances from five north and north-eastern states, Lok Sangeet Utsav, organized by Radio Kashmir Jammu (RKJ), was held at the Police Auditorium, Gulshan Ground, here today.
Today’s folk music and dance festival offered a colorful bonanza of music, dance, rhythm, traditional costumes, in skillful presentations of rarely seen of folk dances by leading and award winning folk groups from Assam, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.
The program which started with first ever performance of a Nepali folk group folk in Jammu, also figured presentations by folk parties of All India Radio (AIR) Guwahati, AIR Barmer, AIR Shimla, AIR Jammu and AIR Srinagar.
Led by Narian Rai, the stellar performance of Nepali folk dance, Maruni, was followed by Tamang Selo, and Jerum Silly. Marked with graceful steps and soothing rhythms, the dances were accompanied by rarely seen instruments like Madal, Damphu, in combination with flute, ghungroos and harmonium.
The folk dancers from Himachal presented Deepak Dance, which held in praise of Lord Shiva, impressed the audience for the skill of dances who while dancing with burning lamps balanced precariously of their heads lifted handkerchief from the floor.
But it was mask dance from remote area of Sirmaur, which emerged as the main attraction of the event.
The dance performed in two remote villages of Sirmour, relates Godess Durga’s vahana, the Tiger.
Dancers dressed in cleverly designed costumes and masks of animals like bear, crow, monkey and the tiger, presented an unmatchable display of rhythmic movements typical to each animal, while dancing to performing an episodic narrative.
The folk group from Rajasthan led by Gafoor Khan Magniyar also gave an outstanding performances.
Beginning with much known folk numbers like Kesaria Balam and Nimbooda, the highlight of Rajasthani group was the solo item by young prodigy Feroz Khan, son of Gafoor Khan, who while supported by his father played khadtaal with great talent.
Prominent among the audience were V K Sambyal, Station Director, RKJ K K Singh, RKJ, Vijay Singh Sambyal, former DG Police, Soujanya Sharma Commissioner, JMC, Arvinder Singh Aman, Additional Secretary J&K Cultural Academy.
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