India Pavilion to host Navratri festive events
Music and dance programmes to be part of celebrations
The festivities that went missing during the Navratri celebrations in the UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic last year will be back this year with the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai hosting various events to celebrate the Hindu festival marking the triumph of good over evil.
Navratri, meaning “nine days”, marks Hindu deity Durga’s victory in a nine-day battle with a demon king.
From Carnatic music concerts to traditional garba dance forms, several cultural and entertainment programmes have been lined up for celebrations to mark the festival at the Expo site.
EKATA, a sociocultural organisation in Sharjah, is conducting Navarathrimandapam Sangeethotsavam — a Carnatic Music Festival — for the tenth consecutive year. The second and third day of the Carnatic music festival will be held at the India Pavilion over this weekend, the organisers said. A dance on Hindu deity Devi will be presented by members of People of Indian Origin Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dandiya and music evening by Saregama winners in the UAE and Navratri Dandiya Raas by Gujarat state cultural department will also be held during the weekend. Durga Puja celebrations will be conducted by Indian Council for Cultural Relations on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.
The Hindu Epic Ramayana story in Yakshagana dance form by Raman Iyer will be held in multiple daily episodes starting from Wednesday. He will also present Dussehra Kahani: The magic of storytelling.