Dancers from Rajasthan and Tripura enthrall the audience

Hozagiri dance performed by girls from Tripura

Five girls from Tripura, in traditional black and red tribal attire, embarked on the show with the Hozagiri Dance, also known as the balance dance. It is a dance of subtle expertise and dedication and performed by Reang women on specific occasions like the festival of new harvest, and Lakshmi puja.

The dance synchronisation was accompanied by the tunes of flute, dhol and karatal by four male artistes. Standing on pitchers, carrying brass plates on both hands and balancing bottles with lit candles on heads, the dancers' acrobatic gestures with the beat were awesome.

Next was the musical performance by the Mangniyarsa Muslim community which hails from the western part of Rajasthan, mainly the districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer. Babu Khan on vocal, Jaisa Khan on khartaal (type of castanets), Khan Dariyav on dholok and Bhugra Khan on khamaycha( a string instrument) performed several folk songs from Rajasthan. The songs Nimbura and Damadam Mastkalander, were particularly popular -- and the enthusiastic audience could hardly refrain from dancing and clapping. Appanath Karbelia's recitation of morchhang (Jewish Harp)gave an unusual sound experience. The star performances of the evening were those of Bhaski Kalbelia and Shamla Kalbelia. In Tera Tali one saw the mandira or small cymbals tied to different parts of the body of the dancers. Covering the faces with veils, naked swords between the teeth and balancing decorative pots on heads-- seated at one place the movement of cymbals were so awe striking that the memories wil linger on for long.

But there were still more surprises in store. With the eye-catching glittery Rajasthani costumes and the tunes of been and daf, Bhaski and Shamla's performances of the Kalbelia dance was highlighted by the unparalleled virtuosity of the dancers often reminiscent of the graceful and supple movements of the snake.

Moreover, it was a programme through which one could savour the glimpses of Rajasthani and Tripura's kaleidoscopic heritage.