Bharat Parv kicks off; Day 1 draws large crowd

Bharat Parv, the six day-long patriotic fest, opened for public on Saturday, breathing more life into the lush green lawns of Rajpath ahead of the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence.

The fest features 17 themed pavilions, crafts mela, a multicusine food court and cultural programmes — spanning from folk dance performances to renditions by the armed forces bands. Tin sheets have been laid out on the rain-drenched Rajpath lawns for hassle-free access to different pavilions.

Cultural performances in a huge make-shift auditorium drew large audiences. On Saturday’s schedule were Bhangra, Giddha, Jindua, Luddi from Punjab, Basnta Rass from Manipur, Navy’s Static Band, Ghumar and Chang Dhap from Rajasthan, Mohiniyattam from Kerala, and tribal folk dance from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Karnataka pavilion which showcased handcraft and handloom products from Bellary and Bidar districts gained a lot of traction. The pavilion sold exquisite silk sarees for Rs 12,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh.