Taking a leaf out of Punjabi folklore

SD Sharma

Chandigarh, August 20

As many as 36 young dancers brought alive the dynamism, grace and splendor of the Punjabi folklore at Tagore Theatre today. Titled “Fark”, the programme, presented by the Mehak Dian Tandan folk ensemble and The Arts brought alive folk songs and dances associated with marriage in the rural Punjab. The dance-drama, written by Isher Singh, was jointly executed by Sarbans Parteek Singh and Jodh Parkash Singh.

The dance-drama presented the scenes right for receiving of the invitation (chitthi) for marriage from the bride’s family to preparations for subsequent events, including the applying of “batna”, and other customs.

All ceremonies were observed with a soulful rendition of folk songs. However, the ladies sangeet and departure of the “baraat” and welcome ceremony were marked with dances and songs.

The show with unlimited entertainment at times turned serious as two

narrators, representing two different generations, while harmonising the chronology of rituals and events, analyzed the gap between tradition and social ethics.

Chief guest Pritpal Singh Sodhi, a veteran folk artist, lamented that though the modern music was drawing inspiration from the folk, the folk culture was just becoming a curiosity for the generation to come.