Junior Manganiyar Artists' Performance Delights Audience with "Padharo Mhare Desh" and "Nimbuda Nimbuda"

Udaipur: The second day of the three-day storytelling festival, organized by the *Maa My Anchor Foundation* under the banner of *Udaipur Tales*, took place at the Park Exotica Resort on Shilpgram Road. The day was filled with intriguing stories of mystery, adventure, humor, and spirituality.

The festival began with a captivating performance by junior folk artists from Jaisalmer, who performed popular folk songs such as "Padharo Mhare Desh" and many other traditional Rajasthani tunes. These performances, presented by Manganiyar community artists including Majid Khan, Rahees, Pepe Khan, Shama, Bhura, Balliya, Soqat, and Ghevra Khan, thrilled the audience. Among these talented performers were Rawal Khan (10 years old) and Sohail Khan (11 years old), whose exceptional talent left the crowd in awe. Their remarkable performances showcased Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage.

The Mangari Yaar Group from Jaisalmer-Barmer created an electrifying atmosphere, with the audience – both school children and adults – dancing and clapping along to the rhythmic beats. The harmonious sound of instruments like harmonium, dholak, and khartal filled the air, making everyone smile with joy. Popular songs like *Kesariya Baalma Aavo Ni Padharo Mhare Desh*, *Nimbuda Nimbuda Nimbuda*, and *Dam Dam Mast Kalandar* made the audience chant “Once more, once more!” The song *Pallo Latke Gori Tharo Pallo Latke*, sung in a traditional Rajasthani style, added to the festive mood.

On the second day, global tales were also presented. Juliana Marin, who has traveled to 50 countries in the last three years, entertained the audience with humorous Colombian stories and a spooky tale involving a mother and child. The renowned storyteller Shilpa Mehta shared an engaging story about a mischievous family from China, aiming to raise awareness and inspire children. Shilpa’s other story, about Jaipur’s tailor Rupa Ram, touched the hearts of the audience with its emotional narrative.

Lawrence Hughes, in collaboration with Alliance Française, mesmerized the audience with a timeless classic that intertwined culture and imagination. He also conducted an inspiring workshop for 28 visually and hearing-impaired students, demonstrating the inclusive power of storytelling.

Sushmita Singha, the co-founder of *Udaipur Tales*, mentioned that the festival unites diverse voices to celebrate the art of storytelling. Salil Bhandari added that through stories and music, the goal is to inspire creativity and connections across generations. This festival, with its blend of tradition and innovation, continues to captivate the audience.

Rajasthani folk artist Ajay Kumar entertained the audience with his "Katha Gayan Vachan," using humor, satire, and traditional storytelling techniques. His characters, such as Shankar Bhand and the Witch, provided a humorous yet thought-provoking commentary on human nature. His performance showcased deep insight with his famous quote, “The words of the lips echo faster than the wind.”

Sayed Sahil Agha presented stories in the 13th-century style of *Jumlebaazi* (a form of humorous and witty storytelling), performing lines from Amir Khusro’s *Kheer Pakayi*. His improvisation of poetry, created from words suggested by the audience, was thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators. Sahil Agha shared that *Jumlebaazi* was a popular art form pioneered by Amir Khusro, and while it had faded over time, efforts were being made in Udaipur to revive this unique style.

**What’s Happening Today:**

Sushmita Singha shared that on the final day of the festival, a session called *Kahani Ganj* will take place at 11 AM, featuring storytellers like Priyanka Chatterjee, Rajat, Neha Bahuguna, Shweta Nadkarni, Shreya Paliwal, and Niharika, as well as a workshop with Rachel from Hong Kong. In the evening, at *Kahani Ganj*, stories will be presented by Juliana Marin, Fawzia Dastangoi, Makrand Deshpande, and Sameer Rahat.