Prayagraj: The cultural evening on Monday, the fifth day of the Diwali Crafts Fair organized by the North Central Zone Cultural Center, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, was filled with folk songs, classical music and folk dances. The captivating performances of the artists received a lot of applause from the audience, while the handmade products of artisans from different parts of the country at the Shilp Haat also remained the center of attraction for the people. People enjoyed Indian art and folk culture along with Diwali shopping.
The programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the Chief Guest, Prof. Vivek Nigam (Retd.), Ewing Christian College, Prayagraj and former National Vice President of ABVP, Centre Director Sudesh Sharma and Advisor Kalpana Sahay.
The cultural evening began with a Birha performance by Subhash Chandra Yadav and his group. The artists moved the audience with their Birha performance based on the meeting of Lord Hanuman and Mother Anjani. The audience applauded the performance of “Bimanwaan Aakaas Me Uda, Mai Anjan Ke Karwa De Darshanwa.”
Following this, Ratan Shri, who received the first prize in classical music at the Brahmanaad competition organized by the center, presented a flute performance in Raga Puriya Dhanashri. His alap, bandish, taan, jhala, and melodious tune, along with the question-and-answer style of flute and tabla, captivated the audience. Aditya Mishra accompanied him on tabla.
Banarasi and his fellow artists from Sonbhadra presented Karma and Dhava Purvaiya folk dances, giving a lively glimpse of the regional folk traditions. After this, Rohit Kali from Prayagraj enthralled the audience by presenting Kali Swang dance-drama. Among the accompanying artists, Devanand played harmonium, Ashok Kumar played dholak, Narsingh Bahadur played kartal and Ramnaresh played manjira. The program was conducted by Dr. Akanksha Pal.
People are liking the products of the artisans: Along with cultural performances, the Diwali Crafts Fair also featured artworks and handmade products from artisans from various regions of the country. People shopped at stalls selling traditional crafts, artistic objects, and decorative items. The fair provides a platform for artisans to showcase and sell their products, while also promoting Indian handicrafts and traditional art.
Ghazal and light music will be presented today: Ghazal singer Bhupendra Shukla and light music singer Dr. Akanksha Pal will give their performances in the cultural evening of Diwali Craft Fair on Tuesday.
