Mesmerizing Performance by Costa Rica Artists at Khalsa College of Education

Fusion of Caribbean and Punjabi Folklore at `7th Amritsar International Folk Festival’

Amritsar, Feb. 17 (Punjab Post Bureau) – The artists from Costa Rica today gave scintillating performance during the `7^th Amritsar International Folk Festival’ at Khalsa College of Education (KCE) here today. The Caribbean dances intermingled with the Punjabi folk as a great fusion of culture and music was on the display at the heritage campus of the College as the Costa Riccans turned out to be cynosure of all the eyes.

            The organizers called it the fusion of `cultures of the two world’ as the group `Inspiracious Costa Rriceaces’ took the stage to the storm through their rare and magical performances. The festival was organized by Punjab Cultural Promotion Council (PCPC) in collaboration with KCE and Khalsa College Charitable Society (KCCS). The artists, wearing their native traditional, colourful dresses, was all fun when they shook legs to the tunes of Bhangra and Gidda performed by the College students.

            The artists took to the stage with full enthusiasm and won the heart with their foot-tapping dances and melodious singing. They said their songs are presentation of their celebration of life, farm produce and daily chores. The 16 member-group was headed by their leader Petter Chinchilla and included Quesada, Juan Carlos Abarca Villalobos, Carlos Augusto Acuna Zuniga, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Randall Mora Rojas, Elmer Brenes Guzman, Daniel Enrique Hernandez Brenes, Patricia Soto Ramos, Diana Pamela Lopez Ruiz, Sophia Elana Astley Richmond, Maria Gabriela Piedra Amador, Kendy Martinez Gutierrez, Laura Ramirez Campos, Maria Fernanda Cubero Barboza, Lorena Camacho Blanco and, Pilar Torres Villegas.

Chief Guest at the occasion KCCS honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and described the festival as an opportunity of two distant land artists to come together at one platform for the international friendship through art and music. He said world is emerging as one village and such interaction forge understandings between diverse cultures. He said out students should also go to foreign countries to exhibit their talent.

            KCE Principal Dr. Jaswinder Singh Dhillon said such inter-cultural festival provide opportunity to students to interact and perform together at one platform as he welcomed the guests and artists earlier saying that they were proud to host the festival. PCPC head Dr. Davinder Singh Chhina said it was the 7^th festival in the series and their aim is to promote international harmony and peace through art. Five alumnus of the Khalsa College Gurmohinder Singh, Sarbjinder Singh Randhawa, Harpreet Singh Bhatti, Jaswant Singh Jass and Sarbjit Singh were also honoured with Khalsa College Heritage ASward for their contribution to promote Sikh heritage and culture in their respective fields.

            Present during the function includes KCCS additional honourary secretary Swinder Singh Kathunangal, Joint Secretaries Nirmal Singh, SS Abdal, SS Mannan, Principal Dr. Mehal Singh, Dr. Sukhbir Kaur Mahal, Neelam Hans, Inderjijit Singh Gagoani, Puneet Nagpal, DS Rataul etc.