Dedicated to our neighbors Gujarat, the day was inaugurated by Naynaxi Ben Vaidya, Head of Rang Kala Kendra, Surat; Furqan Shaikh, Director WZCC and C.M. Mantri, the Chief Guest of today’s cultural extravaganza.

The great Gazi Khan initiated the proceedings with his expert rendition of Rajasthani Folk Music.

The traditional and globall well-known Garba Nritya was obviously the first choice to commence the Gujarat day. Women with earthen pots balanced on their stable heads, and a lighted lamp placed on top of these pots danced merrily to the music.

The Maniyara Raas a Junagadh speciality was performed Rajput men dressed in the traditional Gujarati dress, with dandiya sticks in their hands.

This was followed by the Bhawayi dance, which was an opera depicting the character of King Chandrasen and Queen Chandrika.

The Bahurupi act, a stand up comedy performed by two men was spiced up by a rendition of the modern day Garba, the innovative “arvachin garba” performed by women. This was choreographed by Naynaxi Ben Vaidya.

An entire dance sequence, with earthen pots in both hands, tingling bells hanging from those pots, the music of the tingling bells being given a foundation support by the clapping of hands, was performed to a thunderous applause from the audience, by Meenaxi Jayanti of Surat.

A group of South Gujarati men and women, with colorful green and plain white kerchiefs, while doing acrobatics, performed the Ratva dance.

The other programs of the day included the Kalbeliya dance by a Rajasthani group of artists, the Goa Lamp dance, Gotipuadance by Odissi artists, the Hariyanvi Ghoomar, the Mayur dance from Uttar Pradesh and finally the Braj Ki Holi performance where all the participants play Holi with flowers being thrown amongst each other (and a few to the audience as well).

News by: Kali Garg & Mansoor Ali

Photos by: Sayeed Ahmed