| Delhi State’s tableau most popular with the crowds by railgenie on 27 January, 2013 - 08:00 AM | ||
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railgenie | Delhi State’s tableau most popular with the crowds on 27 January, 2013 - 08:00 AM | |
Twirling dervishes and a house sparrow at one end, a rock band, a gigantic Kathak dancer garbed in white salwar-kameez and sparkling pink dupatta on the other – this was the Delhi State tableau themed “The cultural hub of the country”, at the 64{+t}{+h}Republic Day Parade down Rajpath on Saturday, vocally the most popular with the crowds, not necessarily the only magnificent among the participating 19 tableaux.There was mythology with the celestial cow Kamadhenu at the helm of Karnataka’s tableau with the rear brought up by the harvest god Gramadevata . Themed “ Kinnal : An immortal colour craft”, it showed the human sculptors of the gods.The most rousing chant came forth from the Odisha tableau, strange and melodious. There was also a bare-chested priest who danced energetically in worship. Themed “Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath”, it was meant to depict a 21-day sandalwood festival where there is a procession of the deities every evening by boat.Glamour was not found wanting in the Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry’s “Cinema Mayur Pankhi ” tableau. A big LCD screen in the middle projected the climax scene of Mother Ind ia , as make-believe policemen and gangsters walked on the side along with famous characters from the movies like Madhuri Dixit’s Mohini and Hrithik Roshan’s Krishh . Flying kisses and waves were exchanged between this tableau and the audience.Other stars were the people twirling energetically on wheelchairs to the delight of the audience in the Social Justice Ministry tableau, themed “Inclusion, accessibility and empowerment of persons with disabilities.”The Railway Ministry’s tableau elicited the most laughs. Themed “Air-conditioned double-decker train”, this one had all the noises associated with railway stations, including the announcements, the whistle of an oncoming train and the distinctive people-sounds heard only at railway stations.Different races of people sat lounging on a Kerala house boat. A blond woman was taking photographs from the top while a man in shorts sat leisurely next to her. The boatmen were, however, attired in their traditional crisp white mundus.There was also the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s tableau themed “Tribal Art”, which had a giant tribal woman working on a Saura painting, the different seasons – fiery summer and cold winter - were depicted in the flower-decked CPWD tableau.Jammu & Kashmir had ladies weaving a pashmina shawl and gentlemen gently picking out wool from toy sheep, while Tripura’s energetic dancing ladies in bright pink skirts and green fans caused a stir.This year, the number of tableaux was reduced to 19 from last year’s 23. | ||