Music, bells and elegance from the East - Days of Indian Culturе start in ‎Bulgaria ‎

published on 8/15/23 11:14 AM

A troupe presenting Kathak dance. Photo courtesy of the organizers

Indian culture is visiting Bulgaria from August 15 to 24. The audience of five ‎Bulgarian cities - Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Burgas, Sofia and Plovdiv, will ‎experience the richness and colours of Indian classical dance, which has ‎preserved the centuries-old traditions of the temple and palace culture of the ‎Asian country.

Two of the most famous and established performers of Indian ‎classical dances - Leena Malakar Vij and Sharmila Mukherjee - are coming ‎especially for the performances from India.‎

Viewers will get to know the beauty of the so-called kathak performed by ‎Leena ‎Malakar Vij. The Kathak dance is known for its steps and footwork, where ‎bells on the dancers' ankles reveal a new sonic dimension and transport the ‎viewer into the captivating world of melody, rhythm, choreography and ‎unparalleled grace of body movements. The dance is performed to the rhythm ‎of the tabla percussion instrument. Over the years, Lina has given numerous ‎‎performances at prestigious festivals in India and abroad - ‎the Middle East, Sri ‎Lanka, Spain, Brazil, Nepal, London. ‎

In the Days of Indian Culture, we will also see the popular dancer Sharmila ‎Mukerjee, who has performed on some of the world's most prestigious stages. ‎She will show us the grace of Odissi. It is an Indian classical dance form ‎that originated in the temples of Eastern India, where female dancers called ‎mahars prayed to the deity Jagannath. Odissi dance conveys spiritual messages ‎and recreates mythical stories of Hindu gods through intricate body ‎movements, rich costumes, ornaments and make-up. ‎

The organizers of the event are the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the ‎Embassy of India in Bulgaria, the East-West Indology Foundation and the ‎India Association, with the active support of the municipal authorities in the ‎host cities .‎

The days of Indian culture will be solemnly opened on August 15 in Sofia ‎in the presence of official guests, after which the Indian performers will go on ‎tour around Bulgaria. ‎

On August 16, they will take the stage at the Summer Theater of Veliko ‎Tarnovo, on August 17 they will dance in the Sea Garden of Varna, on August ‎‎18 - at Troika Square in Burgas, and on August 19 - at the Summer stage in ‎the Borisova garden in Sofia. The days of Indian culture in Bulgaria will be ‎closed with a performance in Plovdiv. ‎

Entry is free for all events.‎

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Compiled by Veneta Nikolova

Photos: courtesy of the organizers

Translated and published by Rositsa Petkova

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