February 03, 2012 1. Thailand Group by Ministry of Culture, Royal Government of Thailand I) The Power of Buddha Lord Shiva is a major Hindu deity. He is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. One day when he presided over the gathering of all deities, he noticed that many of them were missing and found out that they went down to earth to listen to the Lord Buddha's sermon. With surprise and curiosity, Lord Shiva went to earth to see the lord Budhha himself and to test his authenticity. The power of Buddha depicts this interface between Lord Shiva and Lord Buddha. Ii) The Lotus Dance The Lotus is a flower traditionally used in sacred services in Buddhist rituals and is regarded as a flower of good luck in Thailand. The use of this flower in a dance is an indication of respect for the audience of bestowing happiness and health on them. iii) The Trirat dance This is one of the newly invented dance form by the College of Dramatic Arts. The song of this dance written by King Rama VI was sung along with the melody line called Bhudhanubhap song. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 1

The song is about the magic power of Phrarattanatni or the Three Gems in blessing the audience with happiness and prosperity. 2. Bhutan Group by Royal Academy of Performing Arts, Royal Government of Bhutan i) Folk Dance (Lu choed chi lhada soongma choed) th Composed by the 70 Chief Abbot of Bhutan, Je Trulku Jigme Choeda, the song is a form of tribute to the Buddhas, deities, the spiritual masters, the King and the people who have preserved peace and happiness in Bhutan, the land of the Thunder Dragon. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 2

ii) Mask Dance (Pachham : Dance of the Heroes) Terton Pemalingpa, the treasure th discoverer in the 15 century witnessed the Pachham being performed in Zangdopelri, the abode of Guru Rinpoche by the heroes (Pawos) and the heroines (Khandom Pamos) accompanied by harmonious melodies of the religion of the Great Path. This dance was introduced and is performed to pacify the world and to restore peace and happiness. iii) Mask Dance (Drametse Ngachham : Dance of the drummers from Dramitse) th In the 16 century, Lama Kuenga Gyeltshen, a learned lama from Drametse is believed to have visited the celestial palace of Guru Padmasambhava through his miraculous power. He saw the attendants of the Guru transform themselves into peaceful or terrifying deities and performing a dance with drums. Upon his return, he introduced the dance that depicts the supremacy of gods over demons and symbolizes the victory of the good over evil. This dance is included in the UNESCO's list of unique Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind since 2002. iv) Folk Dance (Menjoing Choli Zhingdir) This is a song of tribute to the founders of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Blessed by the great saints, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Bhutan's sovereignty and independence has been strengthened through the policies of its successive Kings. The song exhorts present generation to keep the country's legacy intact through the pursuit of excellence in education. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 3

3. Ladakh Group by Sindhu Sargam Society, Ladakh I) Mask dance : th The tantric spiritual dance started in the 7 century in Samye monastery's construction time to overcome the evil hindrance by Guru Rinpoche. After that a renowned Spiritual Master Guru choswang had dreamt of 8 manifestations of Guru Rinoche' s dance and since then the Mask dance tradition started and is popular in all Himalayan regions including Ladakh ii) Changskyan Dance : Decorated brass pot skilfully balanced on the heads of royal dancers while presenting Changskyan ( Chang elixir ) and pouring elixir form their head without any kind of touch neither by hand or feet.. as the song goes by. iii) Shondol : Shondol is performed by Takshosma women dancers of the royal court to praise and in greetings to the king and his family. This dance has series gestures of greetings and saluting. Takshosma wear Perak (headgear studded with gold, turquoise and other precious stones), a family heritage passed from mother to daughter. Hence Peraks are generally several generations old with some value additions with every passing generation. iv) Jabro Rhythmic thumping of feet and movement of arms in the tune with melodious songs characterise a typical celebration of Bodh Mahotsava 2012 4

Changpa nomads of eastern Ladakh the great Changthang plateau with human habitations on altitude between 14000 to 17000 feet. Their annual festivals are marked by relatively fast and rhythmic Jabro dances with music. 4. Sri Lanka Group by Dhaham Nana Pubuwa Foundation, Kagyalle Two items of traditional dances in colorful costumes will be presented by 35 team dancers. The dances depict the devotional performances of prayer to invoke the blessing of Buddha. 5. Sikkim Group by Department of Cultural Affairs and Heritage, Government of Sikkim Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepal folk dances depict the rich cultural heritage of Sikkim represented by three ethnic communities of Sikkim. iv) Singhe Cham (Dance) The associate five peaks of the sacred Khangchendzonga looks like the legendary snow lion, which is considered an important cultural symbol of the State and is elaborately depicted in the Singhi Chaam or the Snow Lion Dance. Mount Bodh Mahotsava 2012 5

February 04, 2012 i) Saraswati Vandana by Pd. Kameshwar Pathak Pt. Kameshwar Pathak of Ishwarpur, Gaya is a legendry maestro of the Indian classical vocal music, representing the Gaya Gharana. Sri Pathak has developed a new style of singing DHRUPAD, DHAMAR, KHAYAL and THUMARI. Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi has appointed Sri Pathak to train Khayal and Thumari. He is widely known for his Purab Ang Gayaki Thumri. ii) Buddh ki chah shanti ki raah by Art and Culture Department, Government of Bihar Name of the Director :- BISHWA BANDHU 'Aman ki pyasi dharati ko do Buddhadeo ka Amar Payam Satya Ahinsa ke saye mein Payegi Duniya Aram' (For the peace-loving earth bestow the eternal teaching of Buddha Trust and Non-violence will give solace to the world) Script Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment, Thirst and Pride have made mankind inhuman. Who is going to sacrifice to safeguard humanity? In a crowd today every person is unhappy. There is a longing for peace, but humans are submerged in vice. This darkest cloud has is a silver lining. There is the One who left everything for the welfare of humanity. When He saw people gripped with old age, disease and death. He left everything for the path of peace. The Path to a Peaceful World is the path of Lord Buddha He who saw his pleasure in the happiness of others. iii) Dadra, Holi, Chaiti by Rajendra Kumar Sijuaar Coming from the holy land of Lord Vishnu Sri Rajendra Kumar Sijuar is one of the promising young and talented vocalists of Bodh Mahotsava 2012 6

India. Representing the Gaya Gharana, which is generally known for it's Purab Ang Thumri Style Gayaki and Bol Banao Thumri. Rajendra Sijuar has performed widely in Bihar and other parts of India. v) Bhajan by Himanshu Mohan Mishra Deepak The eldest son of Prof. Madan Mohan Mishra, Dr. Deepak Mishra, who hails from the village Bhramarpur, Bhagalpur (Bihar) holds the flame of the rich tradition of bhajan for the last 40 years with performances within India and abroad. His soulfull rendering of bhajans have made him a favorite amongst religious channels such as Aastha, Sadhana, Sanskar, etc. iv) Ghazal, Sufi Geet by Kaushik Mitra Kaushik Mitra was initiated into music and singing by his father. He has evolved his own style of singing like KHAYAL GAYAKI, BHAJAN, GHAZAL, SUFI etc. Vi) Bihar Gaurav Gaan by Art and Culture Department, Government of Bihar Bihar Gaurav Gaan depicts the glorious history of Bihar, its culture, festivals and songs. It also shows the intrepid legend of people of Bihar who have dedicated & devoted their life for Bihar & created a history for Bihar.It also represent the excellent political journey of Bihar from ancient to prevailing period. It tells about the maxim of Lord Buddha.It seems that Bihar Gaurav Gaan is a mirror of ancient,medieval & modern history of Bihar. Bihar Gaurav Gaan is ballet that depicts the glorious history of Bihar, its art, culture and festivals. It depicts the journey of the region from ancient to modern times. A show full of grander, rousing music and dance encapsulates the proud spirit of Bihar. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 7

February 05, 2012 1) Lavanee by Maya Jadhav LAVANI (Maharashtra) The name of this dance form has its origin in the word lavanya, meaning beauty. This dance is performed by women wearing their traditional Nauveri saris and is always accompanied by songs relating to social awareness, politics, religion and romance. Lavani was performed even during the times of the Marathas to entertain & rejuvenate the spirits of the tired soldiers at times of war. 2) Bihu by Dimpal Barua BIHU (Assam) - The Bihu dance is associated with the spring festival of that name, widely celebrated in Assam. Young men and women perform the dance with brisk steps, rapid hand movements, and a rhythmic swaying of the hips to the accompaniment of the dhol (drum), taal (cymbals), mohar Bodh Mahotsava 2012 8

singar pepa (a pipe made from buffalo horn), gagana (a wind instrument made from reed and bamboo), and taka (bamboo clapper). The Bihu songs tell of youthful love and the pangs of separation. Celebrated before and after the harvest, Bihu has fertility as its central theme. 3) Garba, Dandiya by Mahendra Das Joshi GARBA (Gujarat) Garba Dance is a popular folk Dance of Gujarat. It is a circular form of dance performed by ladies on the Navaratri, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and such other festive occasions. The basics of the dance are singing and clapping rhythmically while going round the goddess. Women folk come out into the open and with perforated earthen pots holding lighted lamps poised on the head, singing & clapping. DANDIA (Gujarat) - It is very simple dance and is performed by a group who move in circles to measure steps, marking time by sticks called Dandia. Dandiya are the featured dances of Navratri evenings in Gujarat. The sticks of the dance represent the sword of Durga. Women normally perform it in a graceful and rhythmic manner in a circle as they rotate around the 'mandvi'. The women wear traditional dresses such as colorful embroidered choli, ghagra and bandhani dupattas dazzling with mirror work and heavy jewellery. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 9

4) Braj Ki Holi by Murari Tiwari BRAJ KI HOLI Braj Holi is slightly different, here celebrations start a week earlier than the rest of India. This is the season where the men from Nandagaon (Krishna's village) raid Barsana (Radha's village), to raise a flag on Shri Radhikaji temple. Women from Barsana greet them, while beating them with long wooden sticks and colored water, the men have to be well padded as they cannot retaliate. Their only ammunition is water guns, which they use to drench ladies and distract them. This Holi festival is also called Lathmar Holi of Mathura. 5) Kalbelia by Gulabo KALBELIA (Rajasthan) - This fascinating dance is performed by the women of Kalbelia community, whose age-old occupation is catching snakes and trading snake venom. Hence the dance movements and the costumes bear resemblance to that of the serpents. Dancers are attired in traditional black swirling skirts, sway sinuously to the accompaniment of pungi, dufli and plaintive notes of the 'been' - the wooden instrument of the snake charmers. Two or three women sing in a highpitched, free flowing voice, while others join in the dance. The vigorous and zestful display of their perfect movements to the enchanting tune of musical instruments is a treat to the eyes. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 10

6) Dhol, Cholam/ Pung Cholam by Amusana Singh Pung Cholom (Manipur) - Pung or Manipuri Mridanga, is the soul of Manipuri Sankritana music and Classical Manipuri Dance. Pung Cholom is performed as an invocatory number preceding the Sankirtana and Ras Lila. It is a highly refined classical dance number characterised by the modulation of sound from soft whisper to a thunderous climax. There is an interplay of intricate rhythms and cross rhythms with varying markings of time from the slow to the quick with graceful and vigorous body movements leading to ecstatic heights. 7) Manga Niar by Bade Gazi Khan MANGNIARS (Rajasthan) - The Manganiars and related Langas are Muslim communities in the desert of Rajasthan, in the districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer, along the border with Pakistan. They are famous for their classical folk music. These are groups of hereditary professional musicians, whose music has been supported by wealthy landlords and aristocrats for generations. Their songs are passed from generation to generation as a form of oral history of the desert. At times of birth, marriage or any family festivity for their Rajput patrons, the Manganiar musicians are in attendance to evoke the right mood with songs of the desert and many especially composed songs to praise the patron and his family. Though Manganiar and Langhas communities are Muslim, many Manganiar songs are in praise of Hindu deities and celebrate Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Holi. The Manganiar performers traditionally invoke the Hindu God Krishna and seek his blessing before beginning their recital. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 11

8) Sidhi Kamal by Shabeer SIDDHI DHAMAL (Gujarat) - Siddhis settled in the Saurashtra region perform the famous Dhamal dance. Also called the "Mashira Nritya", earlier it was performed after returning from a successful hunt of wild animals when Siddis would be overwhelmed with joy and in a state of frenzy. They sing in the African Swahili language. A unique aspect of their Dhamal dance is the action of throwing a coconut high up in the air and cracking it on their head without fail. Another action is when they walk on live coals with bare feet in an acrobatic dance with fierce facial expressions. Their movements display a supple neck and waist, dancing to a faster beat as the tempo of the drums picks up. This outstanding dancing style has been retained for generations by the Siddhis. 9) Goti Pua by Chitra Sen GOTIPUA (Orissa) - In Oriya language, Goti means single and Pua means boy. For centuries, the Gotipua dance has been performed in Orissa by young boys who dress up as female to praise Lord Jagannath and Lord Krishna.The actual form of the dance is executed by a group of boys who perform acrobatic figures inspired by the life of Radha & Krishna. The boys start to learn the dance at an early age until adolescence, when their androgynous look is fading. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 12

10) Badhai by Jugal Kishore BADHAI (Madhya Pradesh) - Bundelkhand is quite rich in folk arts and dances. During all joyful events these Bundelkhandi's sing and dance to express their joy. One of the dance forms Badhai is also performed to express best wishes to everyone for their achievements. The majority of the people in Bundelkhand worship Goddess Shitla, during calamities like floods & epidemics, people pray to the Goddess for immediate relief and recovery of their beloved. When blessings are showered and the wish is fulfilled, males and females dance before the Goddess Shitla, with a typical rhythm to express their gratitude. The musical instruments used are Dhapla, Timki, Lota, Rantula & Algoja. Bodh Mahotsava 2012 13