Chandigarh
24 September 2017
DIVYA AZAD
Thousands of incurable Dandia buffs from the tricity were left with no options but to skip a date with their hot favourite dancing event at the ongoing annual Navratri Dandia Fest- 2017, at Kalagram, as the rain gods decided to play spoil sport consecutively for two days. Many of them had to return home from the dance floor, dismayed and disappointed. The 10-day annual event, which started on September 21, has been jointly organized by the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India and SBM Pictures, Delhi. A sunny day today with a tinge of chill in the climate in the evening proved a boon for the diehard Dandia-lovers, who were all set to storm the dance floor, on the third day today.
The event, which started with the invocation of goddess Durga with the artistes offering an aarti (prayer) to the reigning deity, Dandia lovers, young and old, took to the the dance floor and stormed it. They danced in gay abandon to the haunting folk songs that added zing to the event. A professional Dandiya troupe from Gujarat, led by dancing diva Jhalak Patel, presented a powerful dance setting the dance floor on fire, which was highly applauded by the audience. Dancers kept their feet on toe as they gyrated to the folk tunes, striking the Dandia sticks with an amazing felicity. They performed under the guidance of the professional Dandia dancers.
Food lovers today had a date with lip-smacking culinary treats from various parts of the country, who relished their choicest food to the heart’s fill. Food stalls serving a range of eatables at an incredible cheaper rate – all food items for rupees 50. The food items included South Indian delicacies, Hardwari (UP) and Patialvi kachaudi, Amritsari kulcha, lachha pratha, naan, Mumbai’s pau-bhaji, Domino’s pizza, Chaat-papdi. For sweet tooth there was a conglomeration of goodies to choose from, including ice cream, kulfi, hot jalebi and gulab jamun. Crafts and crockery stalls offered a range of items for buyers to choose from. Rugs and mattresses stalls selling designers items did brisk business on the third day of the festivity.
“The annual Dandia Festival and other cultural activity, offering an opportunity for a huge cultural exchange, where artistes of various states gat an opportunity to showcase their talent, besides offering a window to promoting tourism in the city”, said Programme Officer Yashwinder Sharma ‘Jassi’ He further added that NZCC was going the whole hog to promote such activities by holding a string of theme events. He said “This season, we are expecting a huge footfall, unlike the previous years. We have taken every step to put in place adequate arrangements, like never before.
