Performing arts festival begins in Delhi

Nine Indian classical dance forms came together at the spectacularly lit Purana Quila here for the opening of Delhi International Arts Festival (DIAF).
Running in its 9th edition, the festival which was inaugurated last evening by Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma, Tourism and Culture, opened with a majestic multi-style classical dance production paying obeisance to the Motherland.
Congratulating the organisers, Sharma said, "The festival envisions to showcase the rich Indian culture and heritage of India to the corners of the world. It is my privilege being the Cultural Minister to be a small part of this Delhi International Arts Festival."
"The forum has brought not only the national culture over here but also international people. They will have a glimpse of our culture and Delhi people can have a glimpse of the international culture and this will also bring global peace," he said.

Choreographed by Pratibha Prahlad, Founder DIAF, the opening act titled "Vande Mataram," brought together nine different styles of classical dance from across India - Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kshatriya, Mohiniyattan, Kathakali and the martial art form of Chaw.
Combining the concepts of meditation, yoga, music and dance in one seamless performance, it showcased India's unity in its diversity while saluting the mother and the motherland in its finite and infinte forms.

"While paying obeisance to the motherland, Vande Mataram also delineates the aspects of the eternal Mother - Kali, Tara Bhuvaneshwari, Chinnamasta, Bhairavi, Matangi, Bagulamukhi and Kamala," organisers said.

The performance began with worshipping the supreme mother Devi in all her multiple manifestations concluding with the national song "Vande Mataram."
"India's classical dances from across the country come together to make a collective creative offering to the motherland, prakriti in this truly pan Indian classical dance production," they said.