CHANDIGARH :
An unprecedented rush was witnessed on the sixth day of the Chandigarh National Crafts Mela at Kalagram.
The stage performances started with a soulful rendition by popular Punjabi singer Sukhi Brar. This was followed by a flurry of folk dances presented in the morning segment, including Luddi (Pb), Chhapeli (UK), Bacha Nagma (J&K), ) Karma (Chh-garh), Gudim Baja (MP), Ghoomer (Har), Kalbelia (Raj), Mallakhamb (Odisha), and Punjab Police troupe performed. Evening session had Rai (MP), Machhi (Dadra and Nagar Haveli), Cherwa (Mozoram), Wangla (Meghalaya), Hozagiri (Tripura), Bihu (Assam), Lai Haroba and Thangta (Manipur)
Among the stellar ground performances kathputli/puppet won hearts of the younger lot, Behurupiyas playing various characters entertained the audience. Nachaar and Baajigar (Punjab) Nagada and Been Jogis, were the show stoppers of the day. The visitors had a gala time clicking selfies with the artistes.
City shoppers had a range of handcrafted items up for the grabs, which included Khurja pottery, designer crockery, cutlery, wooden toys, terracotta items, fabric, Phulkari, woollens and other winter wear, artificial jewellery, carpets, rugs, mats, designer suits and Banarsi saree, Pati ala ‘jutti’ et al. High-end furniture with dazzling designs and striking visual appearance, including sofa sets, dining sets, beds, settees were much in demand.
Other highlights of the day were a special quiz session, in which 600-odd students from various tricity schools took part, held daily for school children and others. A workshop-cum-demo in calligraphy, paper mache, clay modelling and paper cutting, et al.The contest is held daily.
Foodies had so much to choose from a range of lip-smacking fare of cuisines and culinary treats to gorge on. The food court comprising 20 stalls offered a variety of delectable delicacies at competitive rates.
Food lovers flocked to the food court offering a fare of mouth-watering delicacies from diverse regions and had a taste of their traditional cuisines and culinary wonders from the states of Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Awadh, Hydrabad, Gujarat and so on.
The evening turned out to be musical bringing live a soul-soothing folk tunes suffused in classical colour.
The star performer of the evening was none other than prominent Indian classical and folk singer and a heart throb of millions of music lovers, Maithili Thakur to perform live, doling out a heady mix of her popular classical and folk numbers. She doled out in her velvety voice songs including Chhap Tilak sabh chhini…Dama dum mast kalander…Sauda Eko jiha.She also created a divine moment by singing a couple of Ram bhajan…
Tomorrow an iconic folk singer of Uttrakhand Maya Upadhayay, is set to enliven the evening with her popular numbers, one after the other.
