Vasant Utsav in Vasant Vihar
Vasant Utsav in Vasant Vihar
Info on the Indian Spring Show
by
Divya Raina
Winter never fails to turn to spring. Even though Delihites experienced a longer and severer winter this year, residents of Vasant Vihar were spotted bundled up in their warmest at their neighborhood “Vasant Utsav 2008”; a cultural pot pourri of music, dance, poetry, traditional craft and much more. Visitors included foreigners, diplomats and many others who were not necessarily residents but got to discover and sample various cultural events and cuisines virtually at their doorstep! A couple from Denmark was seen tucking into their first taste of masala dosa and thrilled to find they did not have to travel far for it.
What elevated this “colony” show of performances from the usual run of the mill melas however was to ensure that only the best was offered .The Sunday sarod concert was by none other than the talented duo;Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan. There was in fact a virtual roll call of celebrity names in attendance. The festival was inaugurated by Shiela Dikshit and on Sunday Tejendra Khanna was the special guest.Raghavendra Rathore, Ritu Nanda, Harmala Gupta were roped in for various events as were Roshan Seth,Suhel Seth, Feroze Gujral,Ajay Judeja to mention a few.
Apart from the vibrant Bhangra,Gidda and more folk dances from Orissa and Manipur, Kathak and Qawwali were the Dastkaar stalls selling ethnic ware and exquisite and unusual handlooms and handicrafts, including some astonishing crocodile chairs! What , to me was the highpoint of the entire show, however was the opportunity to view some very fine works of art from masters like M.F.Hussain, Ganesh Pyne, Nalini Malani,as well as quite fine pieces from local residents. And overseeing all events was Romesh Chopra,the President of the Vasant Vihar Welfare Association ,the chief organizer working in partnership with the Sahitya Kala Parishad.