Folk festival celebrates Ganga-Jamuni culture

Lucknow: Folk music and dance took centre stage at the 'Traditional Folk Art Festival' celebrating Ganga-Jamuni culture at Mohan Singh Bisht Auditorium on Sunday.

The programme opened with a Ganpati Vandana, followed by the dance drama 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb', which depicted communal harmony through visuals of temple aarti and mosque azaan. Directed by Vishal Gupta and Arun Sonkar, the production blended Kathak, Sufi and qawwali traditions.

The evening featured Awadhi, Bhojpuri and Rajasthani folk performances, including 'Railiya Bairan Piya Ko Liye Jay Re' and 'Kesariya Balam Aao Ri'. Shubham presented a Kajri dance, while Kalbeliya and Uttarakhand folk sequences added regional flavour to the programme.

The event was organised by Lok Sanskriti Foundation with support from the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Prayagraj. Vice-Chancellor of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (BSVV), Mandavi Singh, attended as the chief guest.

General secretary Mahendra Singh Gailakoti said Ganga-Jamuni culture symbolises India's shared heritage and unity in diversity. Visitors also lauded the performances for promoting the message of harmony and brotherhood.