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Indian Cultural Day
July 18, 2015 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Identical twins, Anvi and Tanvi Chaturvedi, age 6, will sing the Indian and USA national anthems to start the Indian Cultural Day program at the music stage, 10:30 am.
Following this performance, listen to South Indian Carnatic music played on the beautiful stringed veena instrument. Also listen to a North Indian classical tabla drum circle, and watch graceful South Indian classical dancers. See below for participating schools of Indian Music and Dance:
- New England School of Carnatic Music, Marlboro MA, Director Durga Krishnan
- Smrithi Laya School of Arts, Ashland MA Director Surya Sundararajan
- Tabla students of Milford Gurudwara, Milford MA, Director, Rajesh K Pai
- Independent percussion tutor, South Grafton MA, Gaurishankar Chandrashekhar
- Triveni School of dance, Brookline MA, Director Neena Gulati
- Classical Music Teacher, from Connecticut. Prabhu Bharathan
- Sri Kuchipudi Natyalaya, Foxboro MA Director Sailja Chaudhary
The following special musical instruments from India will be showcased:
| The Veena, India’s national Instrument is a plucked stringed instrument originating in ancient India, used mainly in Carnatic classical music. It is the oldest and the most authentic of all Indian instruments and it is referred to as Saraswathi. The origin of the Veena can be traced to India’s Vedic period. This instrument allows all the delicate quartertones and the subtle nuances to be played with accuracy. Archeological digs have uncovered gold coins from the Gupta regime inscribed with Emperor Samudragupta (330-375 A.D.) playing the harp, a form of veena. |
| The Mr̥idaṅgaṃ is a percussion instrument from India of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. The Mirdangam is nicknamed as the “King of Percussion”. Mirdangam is a double-headed drum used in South Indian classical music. Positioned horizontally while playing in a concert setting, the right hand strikes the main side of the drum generating a metallic sound while the left hand strikes the bass side of the drum, setting the rhythm for the song or dance being accompanied. |
| The tabla is a membranophone percussion instrument (similar to bongos) which is often used in Hindustani classical music and in traditional music of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. The right hand drum is called a tabla and the left hand drum is called a dagga or baya. It is claimed that the term tabla is derived from an Arabic word, tabl, which simply means “drum.” |
At the Kid’s Corner from 9:30, children can get their names written in Sanskrit by teen students. Henna tattoos will also be offered for this special occasion. Find unusual Asian vegetables (and recipes) at the Ly family’s Flats Mentor Farm.
Want to dress them part on Indian Cultural Day? Radha Narayana will be bringing Indian Saree for adults and Pavadai (langa) for children. You can try over them on over your causal clothes and snap a photo.
Special for Indian Cultural Day, the market will offer the tastes of India. Dosa Temple Restaurant of Ashland will bring a medley of vegetarian favorites: samosas, cutlets, tikka masala, khorma, rice pulaw chutneys, and pineapple kesari; also cold mango lassi and hot masala tea. Mohamed of Kabob House will offer lamb keema and The Carve is preparing a farm-to-table vegetarian menu.
For this day only, a local artisan will bring her Indian-inspired jewelry designs. Hema Chockalingam of Eco-Embrace will display handmade apparel, accessories and jewelry that connect the dying art forms of her native India with today’s modern styles.
In addition to the Indian program at the Kid’s Corner, we have two other vendors that will attract both adults and children. Potter Deb Griffin will demonstrate again on the potters wheel. And children can pet the friendly alpacas at Angel Hair Alpacas.