Indian drums at Edinburgh Tattoo

India is going to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo to be held between August 2 to 24 this year for the first time in 30 years.
The Military Tattoo is one of world''s greatest outdoor annual spectacles, a unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre set against the backdrop of historic Edinburgh castle. At the Tattoo India will be showcasing `The Sword, Spear and Drum'', a combination of martial art and drum dances of Manipur.
The artistes are from JN Manipur Dance Academy Ensemble. And it is thanks to Bangalorean Geetha Rao, who owns Arts Umbrella, art and cultural management services, that they are making the trip to Scotland.
"I went to Manipur to source the best group. This academy is a unit of the Sangeet Natak Academi. The tourism department was convinced that this was an opportunity to showcase India and agreed to sponsor the troupe''s trip. The British Council played a major role as well," says Geetha who is leaving for the festival on July 20 with the artistes.
Alongside, Kala — 2002, a programme of contemporary and traditional performing arts from India, is being showcased at the Edinburgh International & Fringe Festival.
This festival of performing arts forms will be the stage for 16 groups and 160 artistes from across the country. This is the first time since 1964 that India will have a major presence at the festival with a programme of Indian classical dance and music by the maestros including Birju Maharaj, Raja and Radha Reddy, Amjad Ali Khan, Hari Prasad Chaurasia and others.
A retrospective of the films of Shahrukh Khan, who joins the ranks of Sean Connery and Marlon Brando, will also be screened.