Cultural Evening at the Global Learning Festival 2012

[Aniruddhan Vasudevan]

I ended my previous, and first, blog entry with a mention of the cultural event that was about to begin when I made my post. All I can tell you now is that it was one heck of an evening! It started around 7.30 pm and went on till midnight, with just half an hour’s break in the middle for dinner. I mean it very sincerely when I say that the talents we were witness to yesterday were so amazing that they could give the people on TV talent shows a run for their money!

Mahesh Iyer and team did a terrific job of planning the evening, and Mahesh was also a gracious emcee, clad in this traditional dhoti and kurta. There were Indian traditional and folk dances, group songs, Bollywood dances, improvised singing, songs from grassroots movements, fun quiz, traditional drumming, flamenco, African dances, Nepali songs, mimicry, dance to the beautiful words of the Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate – Tagore, poetry recitation, short play, and many, many more! It was truly incredible.

I couldn’t post anything last night also because I was too busy dancing :-) Yes, there was a lot of stage invasion by over enthusiastic people like me, who joined in and danced either right on stage with the artist or on the floor in front of the dais. We were all so revved up that we needed to continue dancing even after the evening was officially over.

What I simply cannot capture here is the energy that was in the room last evening. Everyone cheered the performers on. Appreciation was unrestrained and generous. And the performers, too, gave their all. It felt like what mattered to everyone was to make the fullest use of the time we have together here in Mahabalipuram, and connect with each other at as many levels as possible. While in the sessions we connected through conversations, here at the cultural event, we were speaking to each other through our voices, our bodies, our talents, our quirks, and more than anything else, our trust. For it takes great vulnerability to put oneself out there in front of new people to sing, dance, or act.

It was a beautiful night.

[Aniruddhan Vasudevan]

Thank you, MariJo and Jan! I miss you all very badly.

[Jan Somers]

Once I arrive back in Belgium, I shall post many more pictures on NING of course. :-)

[MariJo]

Hi ani. Thank you for this vibrant, colourful sharing in the blog and for the energetic participation in the festival. It was lovely meeting you.

[Olivia Munoru]

Hi Adi,

Yes indeed there are many pictures on Facebook from various different participants.I don't think I can link to FB but if you make an announcement at the event to ask those who have taken photos to please post them on NING as well as Facebook, you will have MANY! 

Thanks for the beautiful writing. I really wish I were there. 

[Aniruddhan Vasudevan]

Hi Olivia, thanks! Yes, people did. I am sure they will be uploaded soon. Whenever you see the links to photographs here, can you please me know. I would like to link this blog to the photos page :-)

[Olivia Munoru]

Wow... I can feel the energy in your writing. PHOTOS PLEASE!! (Did anyone take any video footage, by chance>???)