The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Dental health fortnight from Nov 17
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 9
The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, will celebrate ‘Dental Health Fortnight’ from November 17 to December 1 in all Civil Hospitals of the state. This was stated by Dr Puneet Girdhar, Medical Officer (Dental), Department of the H&FW and secretary Indian Dental Association (IDA), at a Teachers’ Training Programme organised at the GHG College of Education, Sidhwan Khurd, Jagraon.

In a press statement Dr Girdhar said the dental fortnight was an annual feature and it was the tenth year of the programme. In Ludhiana, the fortnight will be inaugurated at Civil Hospital by the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, on November 17.

Dr Girdhar said all patients visiting hospitals during those 15 days would get dental treatment free of cost, including dentures, fillings, extraction, surgeries, X-Rays and cleaning of the teeth. Toothpastes and toothbrushes will also be distributed among school children free of cost. An exhibition on dental care will also be displayed in the Civil Hospital, he said.

During the teachers’ training programme, a demonstration-cum-lecture on dental health education, supported by slides and projector, was delivered by Dr Puneet Girdhar. Over 300 teachers, staff members and students of the college attended the seminar in which certificates were given to the participating students. Dr Puneet stressed the technique, frequency and duration of brushing teeth and said by brushing teeth twice a day, majority of dental diseases could be prevented.

He said 95 per cent of the population in the world was suffering from dental diseases, but, majority of the people were unaware about their dental problems and said 85 per cent of the dental diseases were painless initially. He also explained latest advance, treatments and materials available for dental treatment.

Punjabi culture presentation at Games’ opening
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, November 9
Viewers of the National Games which are scheduled to be held on November 19 will be treated to a cultural extravaganza as the North Zone Cultural Centre is preparing for a mega event bringing forth the traditional Punjabi culture to be presented on the inauguration of the Games.

“We are bringing forth the typical dances and instruments that date back to 300 years and are on the verge of extinction,” said Mr.R.T. Jindal, Director of the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, in a telephonic conversation with The Tribune. He said that about 1000 participants would be taking part in an event never seen before .

The various cultural events would include almost forgotten dances like ‘nachar’. Mr Ravinder Sharma from the NZCC informed that ‘nachar,’ more than two centuries old , was popular once upon a time. In this dance men used to impersonate as women and dress up in gaudy and flashy clothes and go singing with the groom forming a procession. They had their own traditional musical instruments accompanying them. The musicians played ‘duggi’, ‘tamur’ and sarangi. All these instruments have almost faded away. About 80 participants will take part in this unique dance.

Bazigars or acrobats will display their agility by displaying their amazing feats.

Another traditional dance ‘jhoomar’ has been pulled out and brought forth so that the audience can enjoy the beauty and grace of this dance. The dance will be performed by boys. This dance is on the lines of ‘bhangra’ but is performed slowly with pauses. The music accompanying would be authentic.

The ‘folk orchestra’ would charm people. It will include algoza,tumbi, and bugdu- a fantastic instrument of yore.

Renowned choreographer, Mr. Bansi Kaul, is going to co-ordinate the entire mega show of one-and-a-half-hour duration. Ms Smistha from the National School Of Drama will bring together all the five groups of gidda. Sarabjeet Kaur, known as ‘gidda queen’ for her popular gidda cassettes is coaching a group of girls at a local college. Ms Jaspreet who has been in the gidda teams in her college days is training yet another group.

The boys for bhangra are being trained at another venue. Boys and girls from all the colleges of the city are participating. There were 800 boys and girls to start with and 250 are shortlisted.