Rashtriya Shilp Mela gets off to a colourful start at NCZCC
PRAYAGRAJ: The much-awaited and popular Rashtriya Shilp Mela began on a colourful note at the North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), on Wednesday evening with the theme ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Earlier, artists dressed in colourful attire took out a procession on the road dancing and singing— a tradition that has been part of the fair’s past editions.
Prayagraj divisional commissioner Sanjay Goel inaugurated the 12-day event at a function graced by NCZCC director Prof Suresh Sharma and many guests.
The inaugural day saw Prayagraj artist Ankita Chaturvedi presenting a bhajan and Neha Singh from Unnao singing Aalha, songs of the battlefield and songs of bravery from a bygone era sung in Veer Ras. The evening witnessed many folk dances including a mesmerising Lebang Boomani dance (a harvest dance) by Panchali Dev Verma of Tripura, while Vijay Kumar Bandewar and group from Chhindwaa, MP, presented Shaila and Gaindi dance. Ram Sahai Pandey and group from Sagar, MP, presented Rai Nritya.
The fair this time has 97 stalls offering handicraft products as well as famous traditional dishes of different states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Bihar and UP attracting the visitors. Each evening from 5pm onwards cultural programmes will add to the event’s attraction with artists from Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura among other states presenting classical, semi-classical and folk songs, music and dances, Prof Sharma said.
The fair will be open for visitors each day from 11am to 9pm and the entry fee is Rs 10 per person, for which, a counter has been set up at gate number 3 of NCZCC, he said.