Qatar: ‘Passage to India’ Indian community Festival was held at the Katara Cultural Village on 19th and 20th March 2015. The strong Indian Diaspora more than 5000 people witnessed cultural festival with extravaganza performances from different community artists.
Young children and adults took to the amphitheater stage to perform dance routines, musical numbers and skits. Meanwhile, a large handicraft and food bazaar was held on the esplanade.
The event, now in its second year, is organized by Indian Cultural Center in conjunction with Katara. ICC President Girish Kumar said that the event aimed to highlight the bond between India and Qatar and bring a piece of home to the large local Indian community.
ICC president Girish Kumar, General Secretary Divakar Poojary escorts the chief guest of the evening R.K.Singh, Deputy Chief of Mission of Qatar Indian Embassy to the Dias. IBPN president KM Varghese and ICBF president Arvind Patil were present the occasion. R.K.Singh addresses the gather and congratulates ICC for conducting such a unique program at Qatar.
More than 600 performers dressed in colorful salawar, lehengas, and saris has took the stage to entertain crowds with bhangra, bharatanatyam, and kathakali dances as the second Indian festival a two day extravaganza showcasing music, art, food, and dance from the country’s 28 states.
Karnataka based community forums, Tulukoota Qatar artists show cased performance on rich heritage of Tulunadu Tradition, and meanwhile Karnataka Sangha artists performed traditional dance ‘Kolata’ and Mangalore Cricket Club performed fusion Dance. Communities like Maharastra Mandal, Gujarati Samaj, Bhanghya Parishad, Punjabi forums preformed their traditional Dances.
Delhi Public School students performed act on ‘Environment Awareness’ program which was applauded from gathering. The Kerala artists have performed fusion of Kathakali, Thiruvathara Kali, Mohini attam Onnam Mahabali act, which was main attraction of the evening.
Standing over the crowds is a 10 meter-high replica of one of India’s most iconic monuments – India Gate, which was originally a 42 meter-high Arc-de-Triomphe-like structure erected in the country’s capital Delhi as a memorial to Indian soldiers. The replica, built by the group Vishwakaladevi, took over 45 hours to build, and is made entirely from wood.
At the replica’s base is a large collection of white tents housing local eateries serving various types of Indian cuisines, and other booths selling clothing, costume jewelry, paintings, home decorations and handicrafts imported from India. Karnataka Sangha Qatar made replica of Lotus Temple Hampi and showcased rich heritage of Karnataka, Maharastra Mandal community showcased states traditional replica, South Canara Muslim Welfare Association promotes Beary’s Institute of Technology in Mangalore.
