Kazakhstan folk dance kicks off DIAF

Set against the backdrop of a splendidly lit Purana Qila, with Vedic hymns reverberating in the air adding a nip to a pleasant October evening, the 8th edition of the Delhi International Arts Festival kicked off here.
Performances by troupes from Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Turkey, which cuts across physical boundaries, styles and genres opened the festival late last evening.
Kazakhstan's "Gakku" Group, a well-known folk dance troupe was the first to take the stage and showcased a traditional dance native to the northern province of the country.
They were followed by a Bharatnatyam performance by Malaysia's Asvara dance company.
The final performance of the evening came from dancers and musicians from Turkey who with their lively music and energetic steps had the audience clapping to their beats.

Two plays - "A Woman Alone" and "Untold Stories" - were also performed on the opening night at the National School of Drama.
The DIAF which is spread out over the next fortnight will see performances by groups from over 14 countries alongside over 2,000 Indian artistes.