A cultural extravaganza to celebrate spring took place in BD Park over three hours on Saturday. Titled Basantotsav, it saw the participation of over 300 artistes, including singers and dancers from 13 music groups and nine dance troupes. Half a dozen elocutionists took part as well.
After the stage, the spot which saw almost every participant paying a visit to was a Radha Krishna picture in front of which abir of various colours were kept for all to smear. So it was Holi come early for the performers as they awaited their turn on stage.
“My Madhyamik exam ended on March 2 and here am I,” grinned Priti Bhadra of CJ Block. The student of Begum Rokeya Smriti Balika Vidyalaya in CJ Block said she loves to rehearse as much she likes to perform on stage.
“Their rehearsals are taking place in my house. Thanks to their numbers, we are uprooted from our own room,” laughed Subir Chatterjee of DL Block, whose daughter Arpita is a senior member of the Esha Goswami Dance Troupe.
A band of dancers was engrossed in dancing away, so what if their turn was still to come and it was some other group which was performing on stage. “We know the steps of this song, Manjari O Manjari, as we had performed it last time at this venue,” smiled Ananya Dutta. “We do seven to eight shows per year. So most of the common songs are already choreographed by us,” added Poushali Bose, her partner at Nrityangan Sangeet Academy, Dum Dum.
Arpan Sarkar and Tuhin Chatterjee were so focused that they repeating their steps even as they sat on the edge of the stage, ready to start dancing to Aj bone bone jage holi.
The programme had a loyal audience that sat through the programme. “Our councillor Ratna Bhaumik came to every doorstep and invited us. So I could not refuse. I am having a good time,” said Purnima Gupta, a senior citizen of AA Block.
