United colours of festivities

KOLKATA: It rained flower petals and colours on Friday evening at the open air courtyard of the Indian Museum as foreign tourists enthusiastically indulged in the festival of colour with artistes and city residents.
It was indeed a mixing of colours. Lines between communities, cultures and castes seemed to vanish, buried under a feeling of pure joy. And the melodious undercurrent of the evening was based on the lyrics of a 18th century Muslim poet from Cuttack, Orissa.
It was Indian Museum’s idea of celebrating Holi in a different mode this year.In association with India-Tourism, they presented their 10 year old celebration in a very unique light.
The Holi-eve programme showcased the poems of Mirza Ujir Beg, who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and had composed 500 lyrics devoted to Him. The romance of Lord Krishna and Radha came alive through the performance of the artistes of Ashavari, a Bhubaneswar-based centre for musicology and ethno musicology research. Nicole, an Australian visitor to the city, stood transfixed.
“It’s all so beautiful,� was all she could manage to say. She was soon trying to pick up some of the dance steps from the Ashavari dancers. “Holi is not just a Hindu festival. Even Mughal emperors and heads of Muslim states used to play Holi. There are many Mughal paintings which bear witness to this,� said director of Indian Museum Shyamal Chakravarty.
Polly Marcell, from England, enjoyed the evening thoroughly with husband Mike Marcell and friend Derek Coffee. “When we got the invitation at the hotel we couldn’t resist coming over. This is the first time we have experienced anything like this. Its overwhelming.� she said.