Mumbai people are great: Tibetan troupe

Mumbai, Feb 6 (UNI) The Tibetan art and cultural troupe that performed at the ongoing Kala Godha Festival lavished praise on the city and its citizens.

''The people of this city are nice, cool and very down-to-earth,'' chorused the young contigent. ''Some of us wouldn't mind staying on and joining Bollywood,'' they said.

''Bollywood movies and songs are very popular especially in Tibet proper. There they even hold dance competitions using Bollywood-style backdrops,'' elaborated spokesperson, pop songstress Chokey Sempa, who belted out a couple of her hits in Tibetan at the Festival on February 2 and 3. ''Even the Tibetan communities in New York love Bollywood and keep track of the paparazzi items,'' she added.

The main aim of the Tibetan troupe in participating in the festival was to let people know how grateful the Tibetan community was towards India and its government, Ms Chokey told UNI.

She said, ''From 1959, we have been in India as refugees. We are thankful to enjoy democracy and want to show that we are the people that Indians have supported. This exchange of culture and art is vital to improve understanding.'' The 30-strong Tibetan contingent based in Kalimpong, Assam were sponsored by the Tibet India Foundation based in New Delhi. The troupe performed their ''Shanag Dance'' (Black Hat dance), ''Yak'' and famous ''Snow Lion Dance'' along with Tibetan pop and folk songs to an appreciative crowd at the festival.

UNI ZC RN SKB KK RN2001