Indian cultural show at Beijing enthrals audiences

Hundreds of Chinese shoppers thronged to a well lit lobby of the lounge of a busy mall decorated with a life size picture of Taj Mahal and draped with tri-colour buntings at 'Incredible India Consumer' show where students of the Indian Cultural Centre enthralled them with scintillating dance and songs from latest Bollywood movies.

As the well trained artists draped in Indian costumes danced to A R Rehman’s Jai Ho tune with Taj providing the back drop, several Chinese shoppers occupying every inch of space were seen swaying to the lively music.

"The weather is so cold outside I feel very much revived and entertained by the Indian music and dance. These dancers look so beautiful," said Ija Li who watched the event, inaugurated by Indian Ambassador S Jaishankar.

Besides the music and dance, the audience were treated with a demonstration of Yoga as well as Indian dishes like somosas, Chicken tikkas and other Indian delicacies masala chai supplied by the Taj Pavilion, an Indian restaurant run by Mumbaite, Manosh Pastakia, who made the Chinese Capital, his home for over 18 years. (MORE) PTI
The dancers themselves were excited over the opportunity to perform specially before their home audience.

"I am very excited to dance here" said Jang Chang Jing, who calls herself by Indian name Akshara.An Accountant by profession, she learnt Kathak at the Indian cultural centre under her 'Guru', Ashok Chakravarthy.

Her colleagues Karishma (Indian name) and Chang Xia Jing said the Incredible India show provided them a good platform to demonstrate their skills.Besides classical dances, they also danced to Bollywood numbers like 'Bumbro' from 'Mission Kashmir', 'Deedi tera devar deewana' from 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun'.

The show called "Namaste India" under the banner of Incredible India Consumer show was conducted by India Tourism office based in Beijing."We have been conducting numerous shows all over Beijing and China to build up India awareness campaign and the response is very good," Shoeb Samad, Director of India tourism said.

As the event was in progress, dozens of Chinese women and even some men watched with curiosity trained ladies putting 'mehandi' on visitors hands. A large number of Indians based in Beijing too attended the show.