CHANDIGARH, December 1,All the tricity roads on Monday, fourth day of the ongoing 15th Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, led to Kalagram with the upbeat Mela freaks in their thousands, who had started flocking the venue since morning.
A joint initiative of the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), and Chandigarh Administration, the annual feature has emerged as a prominent trade hub between buyers and sellers from across the tri city and elsewhere, besides offering an opportunity for exchange of views and wisdom.
A quiz contest was also held, which attracted 300 students from various Tricity schools. The contest is held daily and awards are given to the winners.
Earlier in the day, colourful stage performances included prominent folk dances of various states in the Panthi morning (Chhattisgarh), Songi Mukhawate (Maha), Natua (WB), Hozagiri (Tripura), Sammi (Punjab), and Dhamali (J &K). The dances performed in the evening segment, included Chakri (Raj), Lavani (Maha), Bihu (Assam), Barsana Ki Holi (UP), and Chari (Raj), which evoked a huge round of applause from the audience.
Pandavi Gayan was presented by Sampriya Pooja Nishad from 4 to 5.30 pm, which proved to be a show-stopper spectacle.
The ground performances including Kachi Ghori (Raj), ‘Nachar’ and Bazigar party (Pb), and ‘Been-Jogi’ and ‘Nagada’ from Haryana entertained the gathering all day long.
The food court serving a range of traditional culinary treats from various states, ranging from Rajasthani Dal Bati Churma, to Gujarati Sev Puri, to Litti chokha from Purvanchal, to Makki Ki Roti aur Saag from Punjab, among others, which attracted foodies to tickle their taste buds. For the sweet tooth, ‘Jalebi’, and hot ‘Gulab-jamun’ done in desi ghee were the hot favourite.
Camel rides, and other amusement games for kids were the added attractions at the Mela.
The Mela offered an opportunity for the choosey shoppers to choose from handmade handloom, jewelry items, designers’ crockery, woolen shawls, stols and mufflers, heavy duty cardigans, jackets and Himachali caps, et al. However, the stall showcasing the ancient Tanjore paintings became the one-stop destination for the choosy few.
The key performer of the evening was Mame Khan, a prominent Sufi-folk-Bollywood singer, who enlivened the evening with his welcome Rajasthani song " Kesriya Balam padharo Mahare des...." he doled out in his well-modulated voice, which set the tone for an evening full of music melange to remember.This was followed by a newly-released song "Banjara jhamu...". An awardee polyglot singer, Mame Khan went on to render a slew of popular songs, including Damadum Mast Kalandar...", "Lal Peeli Akhiyan...", "Bole toa meetho laago..." among others.
Popular Indian Idol fame singer Anuj Sharma and Khushboo Bhardwaj, will bring live the soulful strains of the popular folk music from the hills on Monday evening (December 2)
Fair to continue till December 7