Foreign folk troupes to entertain in cultural fest "Virasat"

Dehra Dun, Oct 22 (UNI) "Hopa Jerusalem" a folk music and dance troupe from Israel, "Zuzana Lapcrikova Trio-international performance" from Czech Republic and folk performance from Hanoi would be the main attractions of 'Virasat', Asia's biggest folklife and heritage festival beginning here from 24 October 2007.

General Secretary of an organising unit REACH (Rural Enterpreneurship for Arts &Cultural Heritage), R K Singh told newspersons here today that the 15-day-long festival would also witness performances from famous ghazal singers Bhupendra- Mitali and Hariharan. He said in a bid to make people aware of folk culture of other states, performers from Kerala Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Chhattisgarh have been invited to perform.

He said the festival would also have classical vocal recitals by Ustad Gulam Mustafa Khan, Pandit Channulal Mishra, Ustad Gulfam Ahmed Khan, Sultan Khan, including an inaugural concert by Girija Devi. Dance lovers could relish "Mrignayani" a ballet by Kala Samuth, Gwalior, Bharatnatyam by Nidhi Kothiyal, "Radhakhandi Raas"by Bachan Deyi and Shivcharan Beda and Kathak by Anuradha Singh.

Besides, Mr Singh said, the local folk songs and dances from Uttarakhand have also been included in the festival. He said the festival would begin with "Mangal" a Nanda DeviJagar by Basanti Devi Bisht. The festival would conclude on November 7 with Hariharan singing Ghazals of Mehdi Hassan, in his presence. He added that though Hasan would not be performing owing to medical problem, he had accepted the invitation to be present during the concert.

UNI