Delhi tableau to project city as cultural hub

New Delhi: The tableau for Delhi during the Jan 26 Republic Day Parade will portray the city`s diverse culture owing to its inhabitants coming from different backgrounds and as the country`s hub for performing and fine arts, officials said.

"Divided in two portions, the front of the tableau represents a dance form with Mudra, with a statue of a Kathak dancer and alongside is an amalgamation of traditional and modern musical instrument," designer Bibhuti Adhikary said at the Rashtriya Rangshala Camp here. The rear portion of the tableau builds on the theme of cultural diversity. A live pop band will represent the contemporary trends and larger than life figures depict puppet art and theatre. "Our song has a mix of classical, folk and Sufi owing to the popularity of Sufi music which has grown tremendously in recent times," Zaman, guitarist of the band `Astitva` said. Hence, figures depicting Sufi dancers against the backdrop of Old Fort, which of late has hosted many cultural events have found a place on the tableau as well. The tableaux from northeastern states like Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam will represent traditional folk dances, festivals and handicrafts. A total of 14 tableaux representing states will drive down Rajpath Saturday along with five others from different ministries and two representing the Indian Navy and the Air Force. An interesting tableau by the ministry of information and broadcasting will portray the journey of the Indian film industry over 100 years, highlighting movies from both art as well as mainstream cinema. The central idea of the tableau is the "re-interpretation of the quintessential Indian motif of the mythological flying bird boat, the Mayur Pankhi". Tableaux from the ministries like railway, social justice, tribal affairs etc. will focus on their achievements and the goals to achieve. IANS