Gwalior fest ends with 'Dream Girl's' enchanting performance

Gwalior, Mar 10 (UNI) A captivating Bharatanatyam performance by actor-dancer Hema Malini concluded the first Gwalior Heritage Festival here.

The three-day event came to a close yesterday as about 5000 people gathered at the Baija Taal, Moti Mahal to watch the 'Dream Girl's ' performance with her younger daughter Ahahna Deol, who is an Odissi dancer.

The 60-year-old Rajya Sabha member, who came for the third time to perform in Gwalior said people still have interest in classical dances and it was also liked by the younger generation.

''Classical dance is the foundation for all kinds of dancing, I have seen many institutes coming up, and they are thronged by people interested in learning classical dance,'' she told a press conference hours before the performance.

She insisted that if a person was well versed in any form of art, he or she should mange some time for it.

''When I came to know that Meenakshi Sheshadri had learned Bharatanatyam, I encouraged her to keep it going. I came to know that Vidya Balan has also learned the same. It is just because Bollywood life is hectic, people don't get time to show their talent,'' the actor said.

Vocal performance by Ustaad Rashid Khan from Gwalior-Rampur gharana also casted a magical spell on the music lovers at the last day of the event.

The evening ended with a laser show, and colourful crackers bursting in the sky. Writing competition for children was held earlier in the day.

The Gwalior Heritage Festival is an effort to celebrate the rich musical and cultural legacy of the city. The first two days of the event were marked by musical performances of well known vocalists like Begum Parveen Sultana and Meeta Pandit.

Performances by fusion bands MRIGYA and ADVAITA were also a major attraction at the event.

One of the important part of the festival was the 'Heritage Walk', an attempt to make people realise the worth of historical monuments for the present as well as future generation.

The organisers hope to make this event an annual show with good participation.

According to Mr Jyotiraditya M Scindia, who is the founder of Gwalior Heritage Trust, festivals like these should be held all over India so as to enlighten people about the rich heritage of the country.

The three-day event was just a small step towards it, Mr Scindia added.

UNI ARB SP RN1923