Prayagraj: The Diwali Crafts Fair, organized by the North Central Zone Cultural Center, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, was inaugurated on Monday by lighting the lamp by Chief Guest Prof. Raja Ram Yadav (Retd.), Vice Chancellor of Purvanchal University, Jaunpur; Center Director Sudesh Sharma, Advisor Kalpana Sahay; and Special Guest Tej Pratap Tiwari, Administrative Judge, Allahabad High Court. The cultural evening began with a performance of the folk song Chaiti by children from the Vyakhya Kendra, Uday Pratap Public School, Varanasi. They filled the pandal with Shiva’s rendition of “Jab Jid Pe Aa Gayi Parvati Parvati”, the Hanuman bhajan “Maine Tere Hi Bharosa Hanuman Sagar Me Naya Daal Di”, and the Shiva bhajan “Shiva”.

In the next episode of the program, Karan Veer Chauhan and his team, who won first place in the Brahmanaad competition organized by the center, received widespread applause with their rendition of “Mangala Karahun Dravahun Mo Par Prabhu” in Raga Bhoopali, and the hymn “Ram Ram Rom Rom”, “Ganga Teri Lahari Amrit Dhar”. After this, folk singer Indu Gupta presented songs like “Come to my courtyard, O my beloved”, “Kori Ba Chunaria in my turn, O my beloved, come to Awadh, O my beloved, come and take me to your sonar, O my beloved” and “Diyara in Jagdamba’s house”. This was followed by a performance of Saira and Rai dance by Jugal Kishore Sharma and his team. The program was conducted by Priyanshu Srivastava.