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Bhangra Dance in Madagascar : a vibrant spectacle of Indian Culture in Antananarivo and Toamasina

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Embassy of India

Antananarivo

Press Release


Bhangra Dance in Madagascar - a vibrant spectacle of Indian Culture in Antananarivo and Toamasina


The Festival of India in Madagascar organized by the Embassy of India with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and SangeetNatakAkademi continues. After the mosaic of Indian Dance called Nrityarupa, presented in Antananarivo on 24th September, the Bhangra artists from India performed vibrant shows in Antananarivo and Toamasina, last weekend. A large number of audiences, including Malagasy authorities, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Indian and Malagasy diaspora and general public enjoyed the shows animated by the Indian artists.


In Antananarivo, the show was organised at Espace Salohy on 9 October, 2015, where around 700 persons from different walks of life watched the show and danced with the artists to the tune of folk Punjabi music. Minister of Legal Affairs, Govt. of Madagascar, members of the diplomatic community, authorities and general public enjoyed this never before cultural extravaganza presented in Madagascar as part of the Festival of India.


In Toamasina, the dance performances were organized at the Espace Miou Miou on 11thOctober and in front of the City Hall on 12thOctober. The Minister of Public Works - Mr. Roland Ratsiraka, the Chief of the Region, Prefect and other local authorities, representatives of consulates of various countries in Toamasina, Indian and Malagasy community attended the Bhangra dance performances. The jam-packed halls proved that the audience was genuinely interested in Indian culture.


Another event, running concurrently with the Bhangra Dance Performances, was ‘Mehandi Art work’ by Mehandi (Henna) artist - Mrs. Shakuntala Devi, who had especially come to Madagascar to apply ‘Mehandi’ on the palms of the ladies at the venues of the performances as well as at various other venues, selected by the Embassy for the purpose.

The next program of Festival of India would be“The Food Festival - a festival of Indian delicacies”, for which chefs from India will be coming to exhibit and prepare Indian cuisine and connoisseurs of Indian food will get an opportunity of enjoying the taste of India food at Antananarivo. The Food Festival will continue for approximately one week.


The Festival of India in Madagascar will conclude with the Gujarati Folk Dance performances in Antananarivo and Mahajanga.