Shakti Sundays’ May 25th celebration of folk & tribal culture at Fateh Sagar was briefly knocked out by a rare summer rainstorm, but brave performers, ingenious techs and never-say-die audience members brought the evening back to life.

Despite glowering skies “Udaipurs Got Talent!” auditions started the evening off hopefully with soulful sets by local singers, which segued into a dazzling series of dances by Arbuda Kala Mandir and Bharat Verma’s youngest students.

Around 8:00 PM, however, the long-threatening clouds broke open with rain and lightning, knocking out most lights and the video, and sending half the crowd scurrying home.

Pacific University’s lively Maximum Music Band was playing when the squall hit but they just refused to quit. Singing heartily in the dark they inspired many to stay and dance in the rain til the downpour passed.

The resourceful KK Sound team managed to keep the audio going and restart a couple lights. More hot young bands stepped in to restore the energy, all the seats refilled, and the evening was reborn.

Indigenous leader, Dr. Velaram Ghogra fired up the crowd with a rousing talk on tribal reverence for Nature and why we all need those values now. More spirited music followed, and the night ended as usual with a riotous stage full of delighted dancing kids.

Due to the storm-fried video the Rashtriya Guni Manch and Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti NGO Shakti Challenge segments were postponed until the next Shakti Sunday on June 8, when the theme will be “Reconnecting Humanity and Nature to Heal the Living World.” Please join them then and in the meantime visit their site at facebook.com/shaktisundays