Harbhajan Mann enchants crowd at crafts mela with timeless folk tunes

Visitors, including working couples, continued to converge on the sprawling Kalagram grounds to enjoy the fascinating folk colours of various states during the ongoing Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, a joint venture of the North Zone Cultural Centre and Chandigarh Administration, on the penultimate day today.

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The star singer of the evening was the legendary Harbhajan Mann, who took music lovers on a short trail to the timeless music of the times. Some of the songs he rendered were ‘Aa sohniye jagg jyondiyan de mele…,’ ‘Tinn rang husan jawani te maape…,’ ‘Gallan goriyan de which toye…,’ and others. He also obliged fans by singing songs of theirchoice, on demand.

The regular morning and evening features on Saturday were a surfeit of the traditional and tribal folk dances of various regions, including Dogri (Jammu), Mathuri (Telangana), Tamang Selo/Nepali dance (Sikkim), Hozagiri (Tripura), Bihu (Assam), Purulia Chhau (West Bengal), Pung Cholam/Dhol Cholam/Dhangta (Manipur), Balti (Ladakh), Ghat Nritya (HP), Sidhi Dhamaal (Guj), Luddi (Punjab), and Dhamaali (J&K), which offered a sneak peek into the cultural legacy of various regions of the nation.

The other daily performances on the day were Kachi Ghodi (Rajasthan), Nachaars (Punjab), Nagada and Been Jogis, Nagada (Haryana), Bajigars (Punjab), and Kathputli (puppet show), which promised wholesome entertainment to the visitors.

The daily quiz contest for children and the magic show and on-the-spot photography competition for still photography freaks were the salient features of the morning session, which evoked an overwhelming resposponse from the participants.

Up next to take the centrestage was none other than a prominent folk artiste, Major Singh, and orchestra, which presented, besides a soiree of power-packed folk singing, the Malwai gidda, reflecting the vibrant cultural heritage of Punjab. He kept the audience spellbound for over an hour with his outstanding rendition.

Food stalls, offering a wide range of choices from various states for the most demanding tricity foodies, turned out to be the hot spot for them. Fabric, crockery, furniture, and ready-made garments stalls did brisk business with the buyers turning up in hordes to buy handmade items of daily use.

The prominent singer on the concluding day will be Bollywood singer Amit Kumar, who will perform at 7 pm onwards.