Rural Punjab comes alive at Virasat

ibune News Service

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Bathinda, February 23

Folk orchestra, folk music and boliyaan were the main highlights on the second day of the Virasat Mela here on Saturday. The day belonged to young girls as they enthralled the audience with their close connection to the Punjabi culture.

Artistes of North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, presented various items and enthralled the audience with their performances. Even artistes from other states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal also presented colours of their culture in the fair.

Punjabi girls attired in purely traditional and fabulous outfits such as suits and lehangas, and wrapped in phulkaris and ornaments, ‘tikka’, ‘kalira’, ‘churha’ and glittering bangles, enriched the entire village decorated in the hues of rural Punjab.

This fair depicts our disappeared rituals, such as the Charkha Katdiyan, Madani Nal Dudh Rirakdiya Mutiyara, Mastan Da Vehra, Chachi Atro Da Ghar, Baal Gayiki - folk song, Haare Da Dudh and Chaati di lassi, and the glimpses of living and drinking of old villages is presented. During the ancient times, Nakliye and Bhand are considered as the main part of the entertainment of the people also becomes the center of attraction for youth and elderly people.

The entire village is decorated in the colours of Punjab beautifully, celebrating rural Punjab, complete with the village well, chakkis, chattis, madhanis and phulkaris.

On the second day of the mela, Congress Bathinda rural in-charge Harvinder Singh Laddi and Congress leader KK Aggarwal were the chief guests in the mela.

Speaking on the occasion, HS Khalsa, founder-president, Malwa Heritage Foundation, stressed on the need to celebrate festivals associated with Punjabi culture to keep the rich traditions of the state alive and ensure its continuity.