Two-day classical music & dance festival concludes

Two-day classical music & dance festival concludes 

Kathak queen Sameera Koser steals the show 

Patiala 7 June ( PDL ) : The two-day classical music and dance festival - Rhythmia - on the concluding day being Sunday holiday, City music lovers thronged in great number the historic Kalidasa auditorium to be a part of the magnificent show. The gala musical event, hosted by the North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC), Ministery of Cultural, Government of India, turned out to be a big draw in true sense of the term.  The Sunday evening started with an expository recital 'Kathakanjali', presented by the queen of Kathak Dr. Sameera Koser, unfolding the intricate nuances of the traditional Kathak dance form. Opening with the conventional 'Ganesh Vandana' (invocation to Lord Ganesha) in teentaal, the presentation featured a set of diverse themes, including serenading 'Krishna Vandana', titled 'Bali Bali Mohini Murat Ke Bali...'; the 'Shiv Tandav', depicting the Veera and Raudra incarnation of Lord Shiva; followed by 'Kaliya Daman,' marking the victory of Lord Krishna over the serpent demon 'Kaliya. 

She also dedicated an emotive composition to Goddess Durga, followed by an explicit portrayal of Lord Vishnu's Narasimha avatar (incarnation). A captivating composition capturing the  essence of the monsoon season kept the audience hooked.The evening culminated with the presentation of the traditional 'Chatrang' associated with the prominent Jaipur Gharana, offering a peep  into the rich traditions of the timeless Indian Kathak dance.Her immaculate  Nritta (Technical aspects), intricate footwork (tatkar), and precise rhythmic patterns (bols) reflecting the power of storytelling. and, of course, her captivating stage presence earned her full-throated admiration. The other star performer of the evening wss Pandit Subhash Ghosh, an accomplished vocalist, whose powerful yet soothing vocals filled the evening with melody and muse. 

He started his rendition with a soulful Raga flowing with the musical evening.He presented prominent 'bandishes' in Raga Malhar and Raga Desh. His captivating rendition of soulful 'bhajans'  associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s timeless composition, 'Ekla Chalo Re,' which left the avid fans deeply mesmerised. The programme concluded with a Sufi composition based on Raga 'Bhairavi' titled 'Sada Suhaagan,' which was well received. NZCC Director, Mohd Furqan Khan on the ocassion stated that such theme events play a pivotal role in the preservation and promotion of various forms of Indian art facing constant threats of extinction. He expressed deep gratitude to, besides the  artiste, the City music lovers, for making the event a huge success.He also thanked the print and electronic media for giving  extensive coverage to the event.