Cultural potpourri

When a city is described as safe, it is not all about the law and order situation. Much of it is about the resilience and tolerance levels of people who live there. Nagpur is a unique, cool and crunchy salad bowl with a vibrant mix of ethnic communities, religious diversity and a cosmopolitan crowd which never flares up. And no, the city has not devised its own cultural ethos.It celebrates, discusses and reacts to situations that are pan India, but without ditching civility.
This culture is reflected in the fact that Muslims participate in, and win, garba competitions during Navratri, Hindus dig into sheer khurma on Eid, people from almost all communities throng Christian shrines and Bohra Muslim women take part in Sagna di raat celebrated just before Karva Chauth. The Ganapati and Durga puja pandals are not restricted to just Hindus. The Tajbagh dargah has as many visitors from other communities as it has from the Muslim community, and the langar at the gurdwara on Kamptee Road has a huge crowd of people who are not Sikhs.
Besides the strong social fabric, there are others avenues of expression that the city indulges in. This city of SH Raza has many artists who have left a mark on the national scene too. Art may or may not sell, but these artists remain addicted to their work. In Nagpur, many of the artists use public areas to push social issues.
Street art festivals, combining art with a musical show draw big crowds here. "An artist mostly paints to indulge himself. But when we take art to the social domain, many people connect with it and share their ideas, and even express it through this platform," says Lalit Vikamshi. His art organization Alagangle takes up social causes through art at a community level.
The city's keen ear for music brings the best of the artists here. Though the prestigious Kalidas festival may be in doldrums, the music enthusiasts ensure that they get to hear the best. An active SPICMACAY, Saptak and a slew of other organizations regularly hold events.
The city has sent many participants to television reality shows, many of whom are now regaling music lovers with musical shows. "Patrons of Hindustani classical music have always been there in Vidarbha. But over the last one decade light music has moved much ahead in terms of number of singers and shows," says Aniruddha Joshi, a Marathi playback singer. "What is urgently required is a revival of classical music both in terms of teachers and students," he says.
Another shot in the cultural arm of the city has been the new and reinvented SCZCC. With its arty ambience and food, dance, and handicraft festivals that it offers to the city from time to time, it has become the cultural hot spot. "We are getting an overwhelming response in terms of participation and audience," says Ravinder Singal, director of the centre, and the architect of this makeover. "That the youth are joining us in a big way is also a cause for celebration. Even senior artists now come forward to be a part of the activities undertaken here," he informs.
Always having a very distinct identity in the state, Vidarbha region and Nagpur have their own unique cultural features too. If on Pola farmers express their gratitude towards the animals, Marbat is a reflection of social issues. The over hundred temples devoted to the snake make Nag Panchami an important day. Lastly, the Maskarya Ganapati festival celebrated by the erstwhile maharaja of Nagpur, Mudhoji Bhonsale, defies all religious calibrations as it takes place during the 'inauspicious' pitru paksha.