BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 23 AUGUST 2023:
An enthralling performance and live shows by the renowned Rajasthani folk singers and dancers have virtually captivated the audience at the Hariyali Teej Festival programme at the Goenka Villa in Mandevilla Gardens in the City Of Joy in the presence of Mr. Prahlad Roy Goenka, the President of Agra Bandhu , who is also a connoisseur of Rajasthani Folk art,culture, music and food.
Jointly organized by the Agra Bandhu and Rajasthan Foundation, Hariyali Teej, the holy festival of married women, was celebrated for around three hours with pomp and grandeur amidst the backdrop of the lush green garden of Goenka Villa located in upscale Mandevilla Garden in Kolkata on 19 August 2023.
Folk singers set the tone of the Saturday evening from the beginning of the programme just after the brief introduction of the dignitaries present on the occasion.
The rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan has come alive during the festival due to breathtaking performances of the dancers and the folk singers.
The sea of fun and enthusiasm was taking waves everywhere. Specially invited from Rajasthan, internationally famed artist, Mr. Baksh Khan Gunsar (Jaisalmer) and Saras Rajasthani folk songs of Indian Idol fame Sattar Khan Langa, presented Rajasthani folk songs, and which event brought the youth and the elderly both on their feet and danced to the tunes of the popular live music and dance shows performed by them.
Indeed it was a rare occasion for even the Marwari community who were present here as a slice of Rajasthan art, culture and food have been presented beautifully by the organisers.
In between the songs and the dances, Mr. Hinglaj Dan Ratnoo , assistant director of Rajasthan Information Centre and Public Relations office in Kolkata beautifully conducted the show with his humour, wit and great depth of knowledge of Rajasthani language and culture and presented many beautiful lines of poetry ( shayaris).
Particularly the performances of the Rajasthani female folk dancers has made the audience awestruck as never before such a breathtaking dance show has been organized in the cultural capital of the country.
As Mr. Prahlad Rai Goenka, President of Agra Bandhu very aptly said he feels satisfied to host such an event highlighting the Rajasthani folk art and culture in the presence of his elite family members and other members in the culture-loving Kolkata.
“ I am proud of my mother land and my mother tongue. I feel I am privileged enough to be a Rajasthani by birth and also born and brought up in Bengal. This is an honour to me. Wherever you live, maintain an intimate relationship with your mother and birthplace, only then your identity will remain intact,” he added.
The greenery of Rajasthan on Teej. Women wear green saris, green bangles, lehariya and worship Shiva-Gauri and pray for the long life of their husbands. Swinging with friends on Hariyali Teej, expressing their happiness by singing songs of Sawan and Teej is the purpose of this festival. It is customary to apply henna on this day, it increases good fortune.
The event on Hariyali Teej witnessed the strong presence of Rajasthani people in Kolkata, members of the Goenka family including Agra Bandhu’s secretary, Mr. Sandeep Garg, The others who have worked hard to make this programee a grand success includes Smt. Nirmala Goenka, Mr. Gagan Goenka and Smt. Pooja Goenka .
Dignitaries present included Mr. Satish Kumar Garg, Principal Accountant General of West Bengal Government, Mr. Jagmohan Bagla, Mr. Sushil Kumar Chowdhary, Mr. Sandeep Bajaj,) and hundreds of Rajasthani family members who have migrated to Kolkata many decades ago were present.
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