JAMMU: ICCR Jammu presented a scintillating spectacular dance bonanza ‘Bouquet of Diverse Cultural flowers’ totally unparallel devised and designed professionally, here this evening at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu. The presentation was supported by J and K Academy of Art Culture and Languages.
On the occasion, Sushma Chauhan, Director Jammu and Kashmir Tourism, Jammu was the Chief Guest.
Earlier welcoming the august gathering, the Regional Director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs Government of India presented his viewpoint behind showcasing such events. The thrust behind such initiatives is to raise the standards of the cultural presentations so they match the international standards and this part of the region could also find opportunities to showcase its cultural vibrancy at the global level.
Balwant Thakur hoped that efforts of ICCR will yield results and soon artists from the State will proudly take the culture of this region to International heights.
The programme ‘Bouquet of Diverse Cultural Flowers’ was a unique cultural album of Jammu and Kashmir which beautifully exhibited the variegated variety of different colors, rhythms, costumes, design patterns and artistic expressions through the varied traditions of the dances of J and K. The programme opened with traditional ‘Kud’ of Jammu region which is popular in the hills of Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua where the rural folk perform this to please local deities and afterwards transported the audience to Kashmir and enlivened the vibrant Kashmiri ‘Rouf’ which is performed during EID and other festive occasions.
Following this the programme took the audiences to a most rejoicing journey of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, unfolding spectacular dance traditions of Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojari, Pahari, Bhadarwahi and Ladakhi cultures. The programme culminated through the presentation of a mega group dance ‘Unity in diversity of J&K’, exclusively designed and composed to portray the harmony and the cultural co-existence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Appreciating the mesmerizing presentation of ICCR, the Chief Guest of the evening Sushma Chauhan complimented the Regional Director ICCR for conceptualising a composite programme which beautifully represents the entire cultural diversity of the state of J&K. Such kind of excellent programmes are required to be showcased all over to project the unique cultural strengths of the state and also for the promotion of the cultural tourism.
The presentation was choreographed by Rakesh Kumar Kona and the artists who gave engrossing performances representing different regions of J&K included Sunny Mujoo, Vinay Sultan, Ankush Bhasin, Anil Sharma, Nikhil Manhas, Roshan Sarmal, Ronit Mishra, Taksin Sambiyal, Geetanjali Khajuria, Jyoti Kumari, Saloni Verma, Sadhvi Verma, Deepali Sharma, Khushi, Simran Kaur, Mona, Kajal Manhas, Simran Chauhan, Razia Akhter, Ruchika Khajuria, Neeshu Pandita and Meenakshi Thakur. The show was anchored by Anil Tickoo whereas the lights were executed by Suraj Ganjoo and Neeraj Kant. The hall management was looked after by Mohammad Yaseen, Ankush Lakhnotra, Mahikshit Singh, Brijesh Avtar Sharma and Mohit Kaul.
Among those who graced this occasion included Mubassir Latiffi (SSP Crime), Anjali Sharma (Director Doordarshan), R.C Puri (Hony. Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu), Arvind Kotwal (Deputy Commissioner, Excise and Commercial Taxes, Jammu), Aziz Hajini (Secretary, JKAACL), Dr. Arvinder Singh Amn (Additional Secretary, JKAACL), Vikrant Sharma (Programming Head 92.7 Big FM), Rajeev Luthra and Sanjeev (Luthra Group of Education).