Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: Natrang London team returned Jammu here today after performing in London for 15 days.
Headed by Padamshree Balwant Thakur, this proud group of Natrang artists brought laurels for the State of Jammu & Kashmir by presenting historic presentations in prestigious world events. 15 member group of artists left India on 14th of October, 2016 and presented its first performance at Trafalgar Square, London before an audience of over fifty thousand. This was the first ever J&K cultural presentation in seventy years of India’s independence, which happened at such a prestigious world platform. International audience never had the occasion to see this broad picture of Jammu Kashmir’s cultural vibrancy which included ten different items representing varied cultural shades of the State.
Balwant Thakur’s this new initiative shot into world focus at such a time when State of J&K outside is not known for positive happenings. World audience was amazed to see the mind blowing presentations devised and directed by Balwant Thakur who aimed at demonstrating the ultimate power of culture. The first performance at Trafalgar Square transported over 50,000 world audiences to a mesmerizing journey of Dogri Jagrana performed by women folk in Dogra region of Jammu & Kashmir. The programme further forced the global audience to dance to the thrilling tunes of Bhumro and Rindposhmal. which was performed by a joint group of male and female performers.
Before the group left London, it created yet another history for being the first cultural organization of India which had the honor for having the receptions by both the Houses of British Parliament i.e House of Lords and House of Commons.
Natrang’s shows in London were a part of Jammu Kashmir Festival hosted by Lakshmi Kaul, Manu Khajuria Singh and Lalit Sharma. The group was supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The proud artists who participated in Jammu Kashmir Festival in London included Mohd. Yaseen, Rahul Singh, Gauri Thakur, Shazia Batool, Sunny Mujoo, Nikhil Manhas, Ankush Bhasin, Jyoti Kumari, Bindia, Aarti Slathia, Naina Sharma, Saloni Verma Simran Kaur and Rakesh Kumar Kona.
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