NCIC Indian Arrival programme starts on Tuesday Saturday, May 21 2011
TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - The National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) will begin the 2011 Indian Arrival Day celebrations with a painting exhibition titled, “Descent of the Ganga.” Viewers will be treated to 46 oil on canvas paintings by Dr Leela Gujadhur Sarup, an Indo-Mauritian historian and researcher.
Sarup is also founder and President of the Global Indian Diaspora Heritage Society (GIDHS).
This society was recently set up in Kolkata, India as a memorial to indentured workers who left the shores of India. Sarup will be one of the chief guests at this year’s programme.
The exhibition will take place at the left wing of the Bisram Gopie Sangeet Bhavan, Divali Nagar, Chaguanas from May 24 to May 27 from 10 am to 6.30 pm. The celebration continues on Friday with a cultural show at the main stage of the Divali Nagar. Entitled, “Rang Tarang” this show will feature members of the Kathak Kala Sangam.
According to Sat Bakaransingh, the Sangam was incorporated into the NCIC Youth Arm Committee with the aim of preserving and propagating the various aspects of Indian Classical Arts; dance, vocal, instruments and drama.
“We hope to host frequent concerts featuring local and international artistes and an signature Sargam festival providing a friendly stage for students of the arts,” Balkaransingh said. This concert will take place at the main stage at the Nagar site.
On May 28 the show continues with Bhangra Punjabi Folk dances direct from India. A 15- member troupe of Bhangra and Giddah (Punjabi Folk Dance) will be visiting TT to perform for this occasion, courtesy the Indian High Commissioner to TT Malay Mishra.
On May 29 The show will continues with song music and dance featuring top acts form the country.
On Indian Arrival Day May 30 the show starts at 4 pm and will continue till 10 pm with music by Dil-e-Nadan featuring the performing brothers of Richard, Raymond and Rennie Ramnarine.
The side acts include Imran Beharry and Renuka Sitahal. Former Chutney Monarch Rakesh Yankaran will be doing local classical chutney songs. Other performers include members of the Princess Priya Dance School, and Amit Dookhram, winner NCIC/Coca Cola Youth Champ 2010. B-Mobile Shiv Shakti Dance Group, Pandit Chandrika Persad Ramayan and Chowtal Group and Country Boys Tassa Group. Princes Town-based folk singer Nirmala Seesnarayn and her troupe of performers will be singing the various types of folk tunes including, Sohar, Khajari and Bhojpuri songs. There will also be a fashion show.
According to the PRO of The NCIC, Surujdeo Mangaroo, this year’s programme is dedicated to all the indentured labourers who came to the Caribbean during the period 1845 to 1912. “Eleven years after the abolition of slavery, a ship called Fatel Rozack arrived in this country.
They brought with them a rich culture which is forms part of the culture of this country,” Mangaroo said. Adding that Indian culture has grown leaps and bounds as performers are contracted by promoters in many countries of the world.
