Rural India cultural festival holds centre stage at Bharat Mandapam
Amidst the ongoing Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, a vibrant cultural festival titled ‘Harvest’ is captivating the audience at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Spanning five days, the festival is themed ‘Taking Rural India Forward,’ showcasing a rich tapestry of India’s diverse folklore, musical traditions, and artistic expressions from the heart of the country.
Organised under the aegis of NABARD and the Department of Financial Services, ‘Harvest’ is conceptualised by renowned cultural curator Sanjeev Bhargava of SEHER. The opening day of ‘Harvest’ on Saturday was nothing short of magical, with a mesmerising line-up of performances. The day began with the serene Vedic chants performed by the Panini Kanya Mahavidyalaya group from Varanasi, setting a meditative tone for the festival. Following this, the soulful melodies of Rajasthan’s Manganiyar tradition, brought to life by Manjoor Khan Manganiyar & Group, had the audience tapping their feet to the beat of centuries-old rhythms. The evening culminated in an awe-inspiring Kuchipudi dance performance by Ayana Mukherjee & Group from Andhra Pradesh and a breathtaking Kathak presentation by Gauri Diwakar & Group from Central India, leaving the audience spellbound.
Day 2 began with a serene Shankh Vadan (conch shell music) by the Subahe Banaras Group from Uttar Pradesh. This was followed by the hauntingly beautiful Kashmiri folk and sufi music by Noor Mohammad Shah, transporting the audience to the picturesque valleys of Kashmir with every note. The energy picked up with the acrobatic and rhythmic Pung Cholom dance from Manipur, performed by Priti Patel & Group, which had the crowd mesmerized by its intensity and grace. The day concluded on a spiritual note with a Sufiana Qawwali by Ustad Chand Afzal & Group from Delhi, whose soul-stirring renditions earned standing ovations.
Reflecting the significance of the festival, Sanjeev Bhargava, who conceptualized ‘Harvest’, said,“We’ve created a platform that brings the soul of rural India to centrestage. Every performance is a living story—rooted in tradition yet evolving with time, showcasing the resilience and vibrancy of our rural communities”. Each day of ‘Harvest’ unfolds a new chapter in India’s cultural history, reflecting the changing yet enduring nature of rural traditions.
