Chandigarh Crafts Mela: Dogri, Kashmiri folk charm music lovers

As the 14th edition of the ongoing Chandigarh National Crafts Mela inches to a close, upbeat visitors drawn from the distant corners of the tricity and the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana continue to throng Kalagram to witness the variegated colours of India.

 The morning and evening highlights on Friday were the pulsating folk and tribal dances of various regions, including Dogri (Jammu) Mathuri (Telangana), Tamang Selo/ Nepali dance (Sikkim), Hozagiri (Tripura), Bihu (Assam), Purulia Chhau (West Bengal), Pung cholam/ Dhol Cholam/ Dhangta (Manipur), Balti (Ladakh), Ghat nritya (HP) Sidhi Dhamaal (Guj), Luddi (Punjab) and Dhamaali (J&K), which offered evoked a thunderous applause from the appreciative audience.

 The regular ground performances on Friday that continued throughout the day comprised Kachi Ghodi (Rajasthan), Nachaars, (Punjab) Nagada and Been Jogis, Nagada (Haryana) Bajigars (Punjab) and Kathputli (Puppet show), which offered a reason to rejoice for the visiting guests.

 After spellbinding performances of folk dances from various states of the country, glimpses from the rich cultural heritage of the state of Punjab came alive with Khushi Mohammad of Nakkaal Group displaying his robust singing prowess, offering a glimpse of the vibrant cultural heritage of Punjab, the land of five rivers. He kept the audience entranced with his captivating rendition.

 The atmosphere turned completely divine as Padamashri Mahavir Guddu, a well-known folk artiste from Haryana, started his invocatory rendition – Shiv Stuti (Invocation of Lord Shiva) that the entire audience watched with their eyes transfixed. A native of Safidon, Mahavir Guddu, who has left an indelible mark of Haryanvi culture on the minds of the people around the world, says that ‘Shiv Gayan’ was once delivered by Sadhu Sants, which was why he choose to perform Shiv Gayan on stage donning dhoti-kurta ensemble and Khadka, which is, of course, a celestial experience.

 Kashmiri Sufi folk singer Gulzar Ahmed Ganaie presented a Sufi qulaam reflecting the trauma of the brutal murder of his brother by terrorists, which is conspicuous in his soulful Sufi compositions. Ganaie draws inspiration from mystic saints and poets like Lal Dev and Nand Rishi, symbolizing Kashmir’s pluralistic cultural legacy. Starting with “Valo Yaaron Ganimat Chi Shami Gum…, Vadh Sario…, Ganaie turned the atmosphere completely Sufiana.

 Chaman Lehri, a popular folk singer of the Jammu region also performed on the occasion. He chose from amongst his best songs for the evening. Some of the songs he rendered were “Kala kala kot mere darji…”, “Chalge Jammu bazaar…”,”Udd bala kunjdiye…” and so on.

 Tomorrow’s (December 7) fixture Prominent singer of the penultimate day evening of 14-day cultural extravaganza will be Harbhajan Mann who will wow the tricity music-lovers with his hit songs, a rage among the young tribe of his fans. The Mela will continue till December 8