Lucknowites hit the dance floor in style
TLT Team
Lucknow: Unlike previous years, festive fervour this year was at its peak with people moving out of their homes to celebrate Durga Puja, Dussehra and indulge in the customary Dandiya moves. For the past week or more during the Navratri time, both the young and the middle aged soaked in the festivities. Lucknow finally got back the festival feel. The city witnessed festivities play out as videos and photos of people dancing while playing Garba and Dandiya inside the Lulu Mall in Lucknow surfaced on the social media.
Garba and Dandiya are popular dances during the Hindu festival Navaratri. “Navratri is incomplete without the dandiya. It was nothing less than a grand Navratri celebration at Lulu Mall, Lucknow when Lucknowites danced their heart out at the beats of dandiya”, Lulu Mall wrote on its Facebook page. The mall also shared photos and images of people celebrating Navaratri.
A rough estimate suggests that there were more than 100 dandiya programs in the capital between October 1 and 8. Apart from RWA, programs were also being organized by many hotels and clubs. Clubs and hotels charged 800 to 1000 rupees. Many in the city were seen trying to contact hoteliers to gain entry. Rakesh Chhabra, vice-president of the Hotel Association was quoted saying that people come to him for booking Dandiya.
Ravindra Palli known for its unique Durga Puja this year has been in the news for its Dandiya night. Dimple Dutta, a member of the Organizing Board said Dandiya Night started from 6 pm. For the last 40 years, programs of Durga Puja and music are being held here. Dimple Dutta told that 40 years of Durga Puja have been completed in Ravindrapalli. Apart from Ravindra Palli, there are other similar colourful events happening in places like Gomti Nagar Extension’s Alaknanda Apartment, there were continuous programs in different wards on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th October. The community center near Kalpataru Apartment had regular events from October 1 to 4. On October 8, programs were held at Betwa Apartments. On October 8, programs were organized on behalf of Udaan Academy in Indira Nagar.
Among the big ticket events was the one at One Awadh Center Mall where Navratri Exhibition and Awadh, Dandiya Night was organized. Dressed up in a myriad of colourful attires, including ‘chaniya choli’, ‘salwar kameez’ and ‘kurta pyjama’, city residents put on their dancing shoes as they came together to play dandiya and garba at Dandiya Mahotsava organised at UP Sangeet Natak Akademi. Some were busy clicking photographs, others were seen swirling around as they played garba with their friends and family. From young couples to groups of friends, everybody was seen compensating for the last two years, when they were asked to stay indoors due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Shownawabs Organisation Lucknow organized its second edition of the much awaited dandiya festival, the Lucknowi dandiya night at Sangeet Natak Akademi, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow (UP). Setting the tune right for a festive occasion, celebrations were picture perfect at the Dandiya Night on the grounds of GD Goenka Public School, Lucknow. There was dance, music, dandiya, garba and a lot of fun! Similar scenes played out at the Seth M.R. Jaipuria Goel campus. Similarly it was music and magic at Ras Garba by Innerwheel Club at The Regnant Lucknow. Girls and boys let their dance moves do the talking at the Navratri Dandiya Night at Phoneix United Mall. Big Daddy was full house during its Dandiya Night. Dandiya Night at Brijwasi Lawns with Moonlight Event was a runaway hit near Apollo Hospital Lucknow.
It was even more fun on campus as a “Dandiya Night” was organized in institute premises at IILM Academy of Higher Learning, Lucknow, Gomti Nagar with the objective of raising funds for social service activities. There was great enthusiasm among the students towards the programme. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Nayla Rushdie, Director of the institute with the lighting of the lamp. The purpose of this program is to provide students with an opportunity to enjoy the festive season, as well as to teach them to organize such programs from beginning to end and to make them aware and motivated towards social service. It had over 300 participants including IILM faculty, staff members, alumni and current students.
At the local level a Dandiya Night was organized in Srishti Apartment premises. The program was organized jointly by the Mahila (Shakti) group. During this, all the families living here had a lot of fun. The program was anchored by Aishika Singh and Abhimanyu Kumar.
