Heritage Week Celebrations 2015 Back
INTACH celebrated the world heritage week with the ICH division organising a Dastangoi performance by Ankit, Affaan and Aamir and a Dhrupad recital by Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar on 20th and 21st November, 2015 respectively at the INTACH aangan.
Dastangoi was the event scheduled on the first day of the celebrations. This lost art of storytelling, developed around the adventures of an Arab hero – Amir Hamza, in 8th century AD and became very popular in the 19th century North India. For the programme, two sketches (Dastan Amir Hamza aur Amar Ayyaar ke Bachpan ki and Dastan Jai Ram Ji Ki) were presented by the disciples of Mahmood Farooqui, namely Ankit, Affan and Aamir. They specialize in bringing new content into Dastangoi – the traditional art of Urdu storytelling. Their works range from biographical dastans on Indian Sufi poets including Kabir and Amir Khusrau, to contemporary themes like corporate culture and digital divide.
The second day of the event was a musical treat with Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar performing Dhrupad. Dhrupad singing is regarded as the most ancient and rigorous form of classical vocal music in India. The term refers to both the musical form as a whole and to one of its three parts, composed of singing with percussion accompaniment. Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar, who graciously accepted INTACH’s invitation to perform at the heritage week celebrations, is a exponent of Dhrupad tradition in the contemporary times, a member of the esteemed Dagar family and represents the 20th generation of an unbroken chain of dhrupad singers and veena players. The INTACH aangan was packed on both days and the event was well received by the audience.
