Source: Hueiyen News Service
Calcutta, November 06 2008:
THE DHOL and the pepa accompanied the rhythmic steps of Bihu dancers.
The cheraw (bamboo) dancers from Mizoram pranced in joyous tandem with each 'click' of the poles.
The exuberant participants, however, were neither on the banks of the Brahmaputra nor on the blue Lushai hills of Mizoram.
It was the Aikatan auditorium here that came alive with the rhythms and costumes of the region this evening, during a rehearsal for Octave, a festival to promote the dance and culture of the Northeast.
Organised by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, in association with the North East Zonal Cultural Centre, other editions of Octave will be held in Goa, Mumbai, Patna and New Delhi.
Around 300 artistes from the seven sister states and Sikkim participated in the programme.
The sheer joy of camaraderie pervaded the atmosphere.
When the choir from Mizoram did an impromptu rehearsal on the dais, the other groups broke into spontaneous applause.
Whether it was young Tanvi Sharma from Dispur, the coy Yutisala from Mokokchung in Nagaland or the bunch of excited artistes from Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills of Meghalaya, the enthusiasm was infectious, to say the least.




