Feb 18 — This city has a unique character — that of assimilation. It is this very character which lends significance to its other name — the city beautiful. So here where Garhwalis can participate in a cultural function hosted by Keralites, the vice versa is also possible, as happened today.It was just another community get together organised at the Sector 18 Tagore Theatre by Uttaranchal Vikas Parishad. The gathering was delightful in the sense of its strength and its behaviour. Another interesting part was that though the function was exclusively meant for the Garhwalis and their families settled in Chandigarh, it saw a wider audience. There were Punjabis and some Keralites who were there to gain the pleasure which performing arts beget. Though they little understood the songs, but they responded to good music which was in plenty at the theatre today.
The function which lasted for over three hours, was supervised by the president of Parishad, Mr Bachchan Singh Nagarkoti. Among the dancers and singers, there were many from outside the union territory.
To begin with, there was a song by a Delhi-based Garhwali artiste, Manohar Bhai, She presented two songs — Almodi bazaar and Hitli meri siyahi. Anand Kuranga, sang a song about the charm of Garhwali culture. It was titled Haldavali ke panchhi udi. Yet another delightful performance came from the city-based flute player Wavel Sharma. His wife Veenu Kautish, who is herself a Garhwali, presented a Garhwali song: Kakhi door dadyon ka por.
Bhagat Singh Bisht played the traditional instrument gudki and also danced to its tunes. Then came the troupes of Hema and Varinder presented two famous folk dances of Uttaranchal — thadya and joda.
