When people in Bathinda revisited cultural heritage via Virasat Mela

Remembering the olden days when life was not so complicated and people were more affectionate towards each other than today, the Malwa Heritage Foundation recently attempted to revisit all that by organising Virasat Mela, a heritage festival here.

By Mitha

Bathinda, Dec.2 : Remembering the olden days when life was not so complicated and people were more affectionate towards each other than today, the Malwa Heritage Foundation recently attempted to revisit all that by organising "Virasat Mela", a heritage festival here.

Upholding decades old tradition, the fourth heritage festival was an endeavour to revive the ancient folk arts, the customs and traditions by Malwa Heritage Foundation at a specially built "Jaipal Gar Village" inside the Sports Stadium here.

Painting exhibition, plays, Gazhal performances by Pakistani Gazal singer Afsan Abbas were part of the attempt made to re-enact the village culture in the three-day heritage festival.

A snobbish landlord riding on a horse, a bride sitting in a palanquin and a woman at the spinning wheel was part of the three mile long Virasat Mela heritage walk participated by over hundred artists comprising folk dancers, singers and stuntmen .

Be it the showcasing of Gatka, the Sikh martial art or the folk songs by Marasi singers, the procession was a revisit to olden days when modernism had not affected the simplicity and brotherhood all around.

On the first day, the parade assembled at `Nambardaran Di Haveli' in Jaipal Garh Village.

"We were feeling great and would try all possible means to uphold the Puinjabi culture so that does not die and its popularity spreads worldwide. We witnessed rural folk and dances - Giddha, Bhangra and Jhummar. The next generation is forgetting tradition and customs which are exquisitely displayed in the fleeting homes," said one of the participants.

The occasion relived many old rituals as artists re-enacted them during the procession here. lso on display was a recreational village showcased traditional activities like a woman at the spinning wheel, people weaving rope and grinding wheat and other activities.

It also staged a heritage march of elephants, horses and camels. The daredevil stunts of jugglers and acrobats astonished the onlookers.

Moreover, the fair was a promotion to the dying arts, traditions and sports. The Kabaddi and wrestling events were an attempt to draw attention to the beauty of rural sports.

Besides, the famous play "Mirza-Sahiba", which is one of the four popular tragic romances of Punjab, was staged at a jam-packed open auditorium.

The hero Mirza, who goes to his relatives' house in Khewa, meets Sahiba. Both fall in love. Sahiba's family opposes the relationship and kills Mirza. Showcasing her depth of love for her lover Sahiba kills herself.

ANI