Enchantment galore at Amritsar Heritage Fest

Amritsar, Nov 26 (UNI) Audience was transported to a realm where mind, music and dance transcend each other as Bharti Shivaji and her troupe performed the 'Swan Lake Ballet in Mohiniattam' with the classic music score by Tchaikovsky on the fourth day of the Amritsar Heritage festival here.

Essentially meaning the Dance of the Enchantress, Bharati Shivaji along with her disciple/daughter Vijayalakshmi has been singly responsible for leading the renaissance for Mohiniattam, a form of dance which employs such subtle and graceful glances, postures and pace that they convey the infinite suggestiveness of radiant love and its deep roots in femininity.

A classic rendition of how different forms of classical music can transcend nations and nationality and create something so beautiful was aptly showcased by Bharati Shivaji here last night. Bharati Shivaji's choreography and Vijayalakshmi's movements, marked by the graceful sway of the torso was in perfect harmony with the music.

Vijayalakshmi playing Odette, along with her fellow dancers dressed in pristine white Mohiniattam costume symbolised the swans and at the same time accentuated the delicate body movements.

Notwithstanding the feminity involved in the dance steps it was accompanied by Chhau leaps and legs in rhythm-in-the-air swirls by Santosh Nair .While Nair portrayed the prince, Anil Paschal was equally convincing as the Magician Rothbart.

The five- day fourth Amritsar Heritage Festival organised by the Amritsar Heritage Society in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) began here on November 22 with a traditional procession comprising horses and elephants adorned with traditional finery, accompanied by 'Bhangra' and 'Giddha' dancers and 'Gatka' players .

The famous cultural extravaganza over the weekend saw the performances from musicians Ustad Asad Ali Khan , the celebrated exponent of ' Rudra Veena' at the local Khalsa college, an epitome of rich heritage followed by a performance by the internationally renowned Sufi and Ghazal singer, Shafqat Ali Khan from Pakistan.

Echoing his sentiments, the master of the Ghazal tradition of Indian classical music said "Borders cannot bind talent and the talented." Emphasising that melody and grace of Sufi music, classical music and ghazal/quawalli cannot be quashed by pop music, he said, "The threat of alienation of classical music no longer exists today as people are able to relate to this form of music." The entire atmosphere turned musical as the 'Rudra Veena' (the oldest instrument of the Indian Classical Music) and Pakistani Kalam captivated the audience on the third day of the Amritsar fest.

An assortment of colourful shows mingled with cultural walks, poetic renditions, artistic expressions, seminars and workshops on heritage conservation dotted the festival hosted from November 22 to 26 to showcase the city's rich historical past and the need to preserve it. Along with the physical, musical and the creative aspect of the festival, it also aims to delve into the spiritual side through the medium of kirtan darbars, classical dances and Sufi music.

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