As history would have it, there is an undeniable imprint of China in Calcutta, be it the food or the famous China Town area that visitors flock to or the Chinese festivals that are celebrated with great enthusiasm in this city. To mark the advent of the Chinese new year, Dalhousie Institute Presents Chinese New Year Celebrations in association with The Telegraph had the halls of DI decked up in hues of red, keeping with Chinese traditions, symbolising good fortune and joy.
The guests at the club witnessed an amazing performance by a group called India Hong De. The performances included Hok-San drumming, Double Lions Dance, Tai Chi and other forms of Chinese art. Besides these attractions, the club had three extra kitchens that served Chinese delicacies like sui mai, sausages, fried rice, red meat bao, pork and chicken shyafaley.
“A small number with a big impact, sums up the Chinese community in our multi-cultural club. The enthusiastic crowd ensured that almost nothing was left of the baos, sui mai, fried chicken, fried rice and chinese sausages laid out by members of the community. The high-energy dance display of lions and dragons is a must-have at this annual function. As an inclusive club, we celebrate all cultures and religions with equal fervour and effort,” said Jayajit Biswas, president, DI.
The ‘Benches’ was one of the most risky performances done by the performers of India Hong De. The lion had to climb up the benches to get his food. The benches actually signify the tall mountains of China. Showcasing extreme levels of coordination of movement, the dancers did a stellar job. Rajkumar Mondal
There was even a martial arts performance. The men performed with nunchaku and the audience was left awestruck. Rajkumar Mondal
The Northern Lion Dance saw a male and a female lion having a playful time with their master. Rajkumar Mondal
Sylvia Das and Kartikey Shukla, the two senior tai chi trainers, put up a performance. “We are glad to be part of DI Chinese new year celebrations second year in a row. We are India’s first and only senior trainers from our institute, which is in Sydney. I believe tai chi can be a great intervention for common lifestyle-related diseases, stress and overall mental health,” said Sylvia. Rajkumar Mondal
This mother-son duo posed for t2 near the photo booth. “My son Abhimanyu had the most fun time. He particularly enjoyed the lion dance very much. We loved the food as well,” said Beena Kumar, a self-employed woman. Rajkumar Mondal