CHANDIGARH: The much-awaited SAARC Folklore Festival commenced on Friday with an academic seminar and folk performances at different colleges. The day was marked by the main function at the Tagore Theatre. Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice T S Thakur was the chief on the occasion. He was accompanied by many judges of High Court. Ambassadors, representatives from various participating countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan graced the occasion with their presence.

As many as eight speakers from SAARC countries delivered speeches in the seminar organized at UT Guest House, Sector-6. The performances were held at MCM DAV College and Government College 46. Cultural performances included Malangs from Pakistan, Bhutan’s folk dances and Alha Group from Uttar Pradesh were presented at MCM DAV College while Yaksh dance from Karnataka, Yak dance from Arunachal Pradesh, Afghanistan band and Tappti folk songs from Nagaland were presented at Government College 46.

The evening was full of surprises, starting from Bauls, a folklore from West Bengal followed by Kalbelia from Rajasthan. Malangs from Shah Hussain Mazar from Pakistan, while the evening culminated with the performance of Dolly Guleria.

The live performances draped in multicolor traditional attires, obsolete instruments reflected the original pure culture of the regions. The multilingual folk performances enthralled the audience.