Bhangra and ghoomar for Rio Olympics

Jupinderjit Singh

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

Punjab’s bhangra and Haryana’s ghoomar would feature in the Cultural Fest of Rio Olympics in Brazil next month.

The high-decibel Punjabi drum beat accompanied by colourfully attired men breaking into a powerful dance sequence in bhangra would be performed at major events in Rio. The Rio cultural organisation had invited a 100- member strong troupe headed by Chandigarh resident, Dr Rohit Sharma for the Olympics event.

Rohit, CEO of iMatrix World Wide had earlier too led such troupes all over the world. He said the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games approved the team for participating in the Rio 2016 Cultural Fest on the basis of its vast experience and successful shows in the past.

“Our team consisting of 100 school and college students from Punjab and Haryana will perform the bhangra and ghoomar representing Punjabi and Haryanvi culture, values and traditions at this biggest sports and cultural event on the planet. The team will be leaving for Rio de Janeiro on August 10, 2016. We have requested the PM to flag off Team India Cultural from New Delhi, “he said.

Talking about the London experience, he added, “We represented India at the London Olympics -2012 as well. A group of school children performed bhangra at the London Olympics 2012 at the Main Band Stand of the Olympic Park.

The dance attracted a large number of spectators and was applauded by people of various ethnicities. We were invited to perform at the World Dance Festival held at the same time in London. The children performed not only on the stage but in the streets and public squares of London also,” he added.