Sen's Bucket

In the great chilled winter, a great many seek intoxications; some from alcohol, and some from culture, music, and religion. The recent 'Rang-E-Khusro' evenings held at the Indian Habitat Center in New Delhi, proved to be a total intoxicator for the romantic, a dive into local Sufi culture, fulfillment for the souls deprived of poetry, and a view that goes beyond the usual scenarios of life today. Poetry, classical music, and a taste for the works of Hazrat Ameer Khusro, brought together a sizable audience in the cold of the Delhi winter, very suitably disguised by the enchantment of artistic display. For a wanderer, this was home-coming in the purest form.

The International Dance Festival 2014 held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bangalore (Bengaluru) on 29th November was a total treat for someone wholly into India's classical arts. The event was themed on 'legends', and  was a joint effort by the International Dance Alliance (IDA) and the Padmalaya Dance Foundation, which featured 30 artists from the city of Bangalore and Mysore, apart from some in the United States. There were 4 distinct dancing styles showcased with music compositions set over 4 centuries. This occasion also happened to be a tribute to Late Ms. Leela Shekhar, the Founder Chairperson, IDA.