Makara Sankranti attracts patrons of folk culture in B'lore

Reverberating sound of drums and harmoniums, the mellifluous dulcet of jingling bells and infectious enthusiasm of the audience filled the Makara Sankranti celebrations at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bangalore on Wednesday, where Raitha Habba, a day-long State-level rural cultural festival and Suggi-Huggi, a rural art exhibition, were organised. 

Various facets of folk culture, like music, dance, art and literature were the sources of recreation for people at the event. As many as 600 artistes from across 30 districts in the State rendered zealous performances.

Sreenivas G Kappanna, popular folk artiste and theatre personality, who is the co-ordinator of Suggi-Huggi said: “The event is a government initiative to promote rural art. Suggi-Huggi is an extension of Janapada Jatre (folk fair), an earlier initiative of the government. The State is providing Rs five lakh to every district which is hosting the event. The day-long events will go on till Ugadi in different districts.” 

Munivenkatappa, noted ‘tamate’ (drum) player and his group regaled the audience with their performance. 

“This is one of the best platforms for artistes to showcase their talent and interact with people. My children could not stop dancing to the music. This should be organised every year. The stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata were narrated and enacted so wonderfully, that people will never forget it,” said Narayana K, who had come to the exhibition with his family. 

Age seemed to be no constraint to performers at the festival. While 93-year-old Omballamma from Kunigal left the audience spellbound with epic musical folk tales, young girls in their teenage amazed many with their Lambani costumes and dance. 

The open-air ambience at the venue was the recreation of a typical village scenario with grass, haystacks and cattle tied near bullock carts. Stalls selling local attires, handmade jewellery and handicrafts also attracted customers. 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who inaugurated the Sugg-Huggi event, termed the migration of rural folk to urban areas a negative development. He said the reason for the migration was industrialisation.