'Rai' dancers to rock 'Malwa Utsav'

Indore, May 4 (UNI) Bundelkhand region's famous folk dance 'Rai', currently embroiled in a controversy over alleged vulgarity, will be performed at the five-day 'Malwa Utsav' beginning here on May 10.

''Rai has been adding charm at the 'Malwa Utsav' every year since the past several years. The Congress is unnecessarily politicising the matter,'' BJP leader and Lok Sanskriti Manch Chairman Shankar Lalwani said.

Rai dance controversy had started when it was performed in the presence of Cooperatives Minister Gopal Bhargava on April 20 during a government-organised mass marriage at Sagar district's Garhakota on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya.

The Congress had staged a demonstration over the issue calling the dance vulgar, while BJP leaders had described the folk dance as a symbol of the Bundelkhand culture.

Rai dance is performed by women of Bedni community, which is traditionally engaged in entertainment as also flesh trade to earn a living.

Mr Lalwani, who is also Indore Municipal Corporation President, admitted that the controversy had forced the Culture department to look into the manner in which the dance should be performed.

He said costumes differed during the performance of 'Rai'.

The Culture department was deciding over which team to be sent for performing at the 'Malwa Utsav'.

During the 'Malwa Utsav', Rajasthan would be at the centre of attraction, while performances would be rendered by artists from Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other states.

Besides, other attraction would be 'Siddhi Dhamal' by Negro community, which had migrated from Africa and settled in forests in Gujarat hundreds of years ago.

Performance by 'Dhol Kunita' team from Karnataka and Vindhyachal's Maihar band, which was established by Ustad Allaudin Khan, would also be rendered.

Kalbelia, Teratali, Ghoomar, Chari, Chakri, Bhopa Bhopi, Manganiyar and Langa singing from Rajasthan would be performed.

Besides exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts from various states, visitors will get an opportunity to taste different food items of many states.

UNI