By IANS
Bangalore : Traditional dance dramas, a drum performance and movies and games for poor children at upmarket malls are among the programmes lined up in Bangalore to celebrate the 60th anniversary of India’s Independence.
A replica of the Taj Mahal made with 26,000 roses, and a spaceship made with over 10,000 flowers at the famous Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in the city is expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors on Aug 15.
The rose Taj and the spaceship are the two main attractions at this year’s annual flower show, which concludes Aug 15. On Sunday the show attracted around 150,000 visitors and the maximum number of footfalls will be, as usual, on the last day, Lalbagh officials said.
A unique music festival “Drum Up Your Own Rhythm” is being organised for the first time by a group of music lovers and “everyone from three-year-olds to 93-year-olds are welcome to try their hand”, Roberto Narain, a drummer and prime mover of the ‘Drumjam’ programme, told IANS.
“We have over 300 drums from all over the world, from Thailand to Cuba and Brazil and people can participate in groups or as individuals and work up a community rhythm,” Narain said.
There will be only drums and percussion instruments to play and no previous experience is required to participate, he said.
The “drum circle” is just a year old organisation and uses the drum circle concept to help build community and team spirit, he said. “We are about six or seven members, drummers and percussionists right now and in the process of enlarging the circle,” he added.
“We have been organising drum circle events for corporates all this time as part of de-stressing and team building,” said Narain, who is based in Mumbai and shuttles between India’s commercial capital and the IT capital to promote the concept.
“The response from corporates has been very encouraging and hence we decided on a public event to mark the 60th anniversary of Independence and to celebrate freedom of expression,” he said.
The entry to the event is free. It starts at 11 a.m. on August 15 on the banks of Nagawara Lake, about 10 km north of the city centre.
“Response to the August 15 event is tremendous as people are calling to register themselves,” Narain said.
While Roberto Narain and his group are busy preparing for this event for the first time in Bangalore, internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer Vyjayanthi Kashi is busy getting her team ready for a dance drama ‘Veera Bharati’ (Courageous India) to be staged on Independence Day.
The dance drama, choreographed by Kashi, tells the story of India’s journey to freedom.
Away from these cultural events are the preparations by non-governmental organisations working for the welfare of less privileged children to rope in various malls in the city to offer cinema shows and organise games. One such will be held in The Forum Mall in association with an FM channel and Dream-a-Dream NGO.
Several hotels are offering a discount of 50 percent to senior citizens (60 and above) and members of defence personnel and their families at the brunch and lunch they are organising to celebrate the 60th anniversary of India’s freedom.