GANGTOK CELEBRATES WORLD MUSIC DAY

"Yak dance"-Entertainer of the show

By Kesang Tamang: World Music day, a festival of music was celebrated here at Gangtok on 21st June 2011. “F□te de la Musique”, (World Music Day) as it was called originally started in France in the year 1982. In Sikkim this year is always marked with musical extravaganza. Earlier the same used to be held at Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhawan, but this year, the same was organized in the busy streets of M.G.Marg by the Cultural Affairs and the Heritage Department of Sikkim along with the North-East Zonal Cultural Center, Guwahati. The entire show was hosted by Culture Officer Sikkim, Mrs. Lata Rajalim. The purpose of organizing the event was to encourage local musicians and artists, professional and amateur, to perform at streets and also to deliver free concerts, making all genre of music accessible to the people, said the host.

                  The program started with a traditional Yak dance performed by artists from Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department. Playing pranks with audience and giving a bit of comedy act, the Yak dance entertained the crowd as people was seen enjoying to their fullest. As the day proceeded, tourists and local people jammed the street to listen to the artists belting out popular songs. A Lepcha duet song was performed by Nim Tshering Lepcha and his Sister followed by a Lepcha solo by Nim Tshering again. Artists from Culture Department sang a group Tibetan Song playing their traditional instrument.
                  “Timro Muskaan” a Nepali solo performed by Ganesh Dhungel, who is an employee of Culture Department gathered a huge applause from the audience. His song is also played frequently on Local TV Channel, Nayuma TV. His performance was immediately followed by a Hindi solo from Prakash Sundas which was quite an ear soothing. A Tibetan song performed by Tenzing Bhutia was immediately followed by a Limboo song by Sanchaman Limboo. Their performance left a good impression on tourists that as to how the Sikkim has preserved its tradition and culture. A Sherpa song was performed by Dorjee Sherpa and group where one tourist joined in their dance.

Remanti Rai who is also quite popular among locals and who has also reached the finals of “North East Ke Super Star” performed a duet “Pyaar hai ya saaja’ with Prakash Sundas leaving a mesmerizing effect on audience as everyone was heard humming along with the pair.

The entire show witnessed participation of audiences by singing. A group of tourists from Delhi sang two songs and a 14 year old girl who was also from Delhi sang few lines from Celine Dion’s album.

Then entering into the different genre, Tshering Leezum, who is studying music in one of A.R.Rehman’s institute performed two Nepali songs ‘Yo Samay & Bhana Changba’ from her recently released album “Kina-Kina” made audience dance to her tune.

Again with a traditional taste, a group of artists invited by Department performed a “Tamang Selo”.

Making their appearance with a unique style came Urban Inc. a Hip-Hop band from Gangtok, whose song ‘should be what you want’ was ranked no.1 for three consecutive week at 91.9 FM, performed their numbers, a blend of English, Nepali and Hindi words with a DJ mix was a bit of surprise for Gantokians that made the crowd go crazy.

As it was Music day, no music requests could be refused, so last two songs were sung by audience, a Hindi and a Lepcha song both from within audience.

Apart from the support by Department, Police personnel and everything else, the biggest support came from weather, where it is rainy usually at this time of year in Gangtok, no sign of rain was seen throughout the show.