A tryst with Rajasthan
The Rajkov Club of Melbourne (RCM) founded in 2001, recently enthralled members of the Indian Senior Citizens Association (ISCA) with ‘Rajasthani Hour’, a combination of dances, colourful costumes, local customs and typically endemic food from this vibrant state in India.
Copies of the day’s program were placed on tables for members to get an idea of the events as they unfolded.
In the absence of a formal dressing room at the venue, a riot of colour filled the front part of the hall as performers prepared for the show, while ISCA President Dr. Prem Phakey welcomed all and made brief announcements.
Rajiv Chaudhary took to the stage, wishing those present Ram, Ram, Sa, the traditional Rajasthani greetings with hands folded, and in story-form related the equally colourful history, background and significance of the Gangaur Festival for Women.
President Prabhat Mehta took to the stage and complemented Rajiv’s discourse in his own words. There was no pressure involved in any performance; in fact, it seemed as if the performers wished simply to perform, and equally simply to please! Narrators Vikram and Kalpana Jain green-flagged the journey of Rajasthan with smiles and alluring words, their prose garbed in poetic vehemence.
Sumita Verma articulated her very obvious love of all things Rajasthani when relating the attributes and brief history of the main cities in Rajasthan through a visual presentation. Jodhpur, the docile Blue City; Udaipur, the picturesque Lake City; Jaipur, the Red City of Hawa Mahal; Ajmer, the Mazaar City in which all faiths agree to shine in matching brilliance; and Jaisalmer, the City of Golden Sands.
Needless to add, each city boasts its own fort and enviable history of personal valour and patriotism-dipped bravery.At this stage Mr. Rakesh Kawra, Vice Consul General, and his family arrived, and were warmly welcomed. Mr. Kawra briefly praised the Rajkov Club’s endeavours in Melbourne. Then came three beauties who danced to the fervour of Rang De Basanti, to our absolute delight. Shubhi, Srishti and Suman performed a highly demanding Krishna dance.
To inject divergence, a number of tugs-of-war; not with ropes but pagris, were held; in the women versus men, by Mother Nature’s rule, the women carried the prize virtually in a second.
The second bout was women versus women, and the third that instigated cat-whistles was Rajasthan versus ISCA members. Let me not spoil your day by announcing this result! Next came the Ghoomar Dance, traditionally performed by six ladies, but accommodating an additional dancer specially for ISCA. To change the pace again, Shwetank and Srishti presented Rajasthani folk dances via primitive and so very rural Rajasthani kathputlis.
The club ladies even had a Ghoomar Dance workshop for ISCA seniors right on the floor. They then seated five ISCA menfolk on chairs and asked their wives to tie threemeter-long, utterly unmanageable pagris on their heads. A total disaster, as witnessed, but yet thoroughly enjoyed by the 150 attending members.
Only ex-president Krishna Arora excelled in tying the pagri on Dr. Kanwar Raj Singh, but they are not related!I wonder how Club President Prabhat Mehta came to know of Rose Thakur’s presence calling her to the stage. She is originally from Ajmer.
It was impossible to recognise Prabhat, a friend of old times, for he was not attired in a business suit and tie, but sported an elaborate Rajasthani pagri and costume. Prabhat ended the day with a vote of thanks to highly appreciative audience. This was entertainment at its best!ISCA member Thakur Yaduveer Singh from the royal family of Geesgargh, seemingly questioned the authenticity of lunch served, but himself clarified that this was traditional staple food a majority of Rajasthanis enjoyed every day, and which may not necessarily be served on royal dastarkhuans.
ISCA next meets on 11 June, at 11:30 am. Member Khalid Arsalan Ali, a senior ex-Indian Air Force Officer who now calls Melbourne home, will display and detail the model aircraft he assembles as a hobby. Please call President Prem Phakey on 03 9560-9607 for more information.
