Indian Folk Troupe to tour Guyana

Georgetown: Indian Folk Troupe From Uttar Pradesh Tours Guyana Shri Girraj Krishna, Sanskratik Kala Samiti (Reg) led by Sh Murari Lal Tiwari from Uttar Pradesh, India, will arrive in Guyana on Monday 24th of July, after performing in Trinidad & Tobago. The Troupe hails from the Goverdhan, District of Mathura – the birth place of the Hindu Lord Krishna. This area that is famous for the enactment of plays, dances, and songs celebrating the life of Krishna in different Krishna Rasa Lilas – stories of Krishna. Although, Rasa lila has been a popular theme in Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Meitei, and Kuchipudi items, Rasa Lila is a popular form of folk theatre in the regions of Mathura, Vrindavana in Uttar Pradesh, especially during the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Holi. Rasa Lila performance was started by Swami Sri Uddhavaghamanda Devacharya in the early 15th Century CE at Vamshivata in Vrindavan, Mathura. This is the very area in India where many of our Hindu foreparents originated. “This show is a good oportunity for our young people to see the culture of their great grandparents before they came to British Guiana between 1838 and 1917. And the older persons may relive whatever memories, of days past still remain, in the sounds, rythms, dance styles, costumes, and language.” The group leader is Shree Murari Lal Sharma who sings as well as dances. Other members are Shree Pappu who is mainly a singer, musicians – Shree Amarchand, Deepak Sharma, Mohan Lal Nagar; and dancers – Shree Govind Tiwari, Shree Rajendra Prasad, Ms. Mamta Pal, Neha Upadhyay and Ms. Shivani Tiwari. Dances and songs include a Brij Vandana, a Peacock Dance, the famous Brij Flowers Holi and the Barsane Latthmar Holi and other sons and dances. The show is on at the Monument Gardens, Camp and Church Streets, on Tuesday, July 25 at 6pm. Admission is free.