12 Mandi artistes among 80 to perform before President Murmu on May 7
MANDI: The department of Language and Cultural department is organising a vibrant cultural extravaganza during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Shimla on May 7.
The event aims to showcase the rich cultural history of Himachal Pradesh, with 80 artistes from the state sweating it out in rehearsals at the iconic Gaiety Theatre since May 4 for the show.
Representing Mandi district, a troupe of 12 artistes from the Mandavya Kala Manch, which include Vipin, Haricharan, Pankaj, Amit, Ayush, Ramesh, Shreya, Rajni, Paramjeet, Gagandeep, Kritika and Kuldeep Guleria, are all set to take the stage. They will dazzle the audience with the quintessential folk dance “Luddi” and a mesmerizing Himachali finale.
The event marks a significant milestone for the Mandavya Kala Manch, renowned for its tireless efforts in preserving and promoting folk culture.
Having bagged prestigious accolades since 1988, including participation in seven National Youth Festivals, two National Drama Festivals, and three National Folk Dance Festivals, the platform’s commitment to cultural heritage is unwavering.
Their remarkable journey includes reviving the fading Mandi district’s main folk dance “Luddi”, captivating audiences across the country with over 3000 performances. Not stopping there, they’ve also played a pivotal role in safeguarding other folk treasures like “Buddha” and “Banthara”.
In a bid to further enrich cultural discourse, the platform has ventured into theatrical works and even contributed to cinematic adaptations, bringing timeless tales like “Narsingh Veer ki Chhaya” to life on stage.
Their dedication extends beyond performance arts, as they’ve diligently compiled Mandi’s Mandiyali songs into a book and freely distributed them in 1998. Similarly, in 2007, they made the soulful melodies of folk songs accessible to all through the distribution of the audio cassette “Virasat”.
This year’s participation in Bharat Parv 2024 and the stellar performance at the Vande Bharat programme in 2023 underscore their unwavering commitment to showcase Himachal’s cultural heritage on national platforms.
Moreover, their recent participation in the G-20 summit and the spectacular display of a cultural tableau at Kullu Dussehra, featuring artistes from 15 countries, has further cemented Mandi’s reputation as a cultural hub.
