KAUSHALENDRA SINGH -
Clapping, silence, music and roars of applause were the rhythms of the evening when a folk dance and music troupe from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir came to Salalah and gave a mesmerising performance amid a mixed gathering of Omani and expatriate audience.
The performance was a rare glimpse of beauty, folk music and dance as the 15-member troupe was successful in taking the audience to an entirely different level of pure entertainment.
Team leader Gulzar Ahmed Ganie and Zulaikha Bano presented several folklores of Jammu and Kashmir, while the folk dance team ruled over the hearts of the audience all through the programme which continued non-stop for one-and-a-half hours.
The event’s Chief Guest Sultan Ali Ahmed al Hadari, Chairman Entrepreneurs Club of Dhofar Governorate and member of the Board of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dhofar region, appreciated the efforts of the Indian Embassy for bringing such a lively programme to Salalah and called it “one of his most wonderful evenings.”
The performance was part of the Festival of India in Oman programme which is being hosted by the Embassy of India in Muscat in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of India.
The Festival, which kicked off in November 2016, would continue till March 2017 in different parts of the Sultanate.
Indramani Pandey, Ambassador of India to Oman, expressed happiness over huge response for the event from all the nationalities living in Oman.
In the first of its kind entertainment programme in Salalah, the troupe members presented typical Kashmiri folk forms showcasing the way of life in Jammu and Kashmir, its rural and urban culture which is “natural, full of emotions and easy going.”
The audience enjoyed folk dance forms of Bachha Nagma, Hafiza, Jagrana, Chakkari and Ruff. Each form was distinct in its nature but quite close to the agrarian society and relationships made out of it.
Gulzar Ahmed Ganie was overwhelmed over the audience‘s response and called it one of his most memorable programmes due to love and affection he received in Salalah.
“I was amazed to see the Omani nationals appreciating our programme even though they were not familiar with our language. I fully agree here that music is the language of peace … I really loved Salalah and its people.”
Ravinder Kumar, Programme Officer, North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala, said all forms of Indian music were great in demand.
“Folklores have their own appeal and appreciated by most of the viewers. Since most of the folklores are associated with the villages and agrarian societies, it is easy for people from across the societies to identify and interact with their themes.”
He put stress on proper documentation of folklores and identifying the real talents.
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