After a successful show last year, Mumbai-based cultural group Banyan Tree is back with its second edition of International Folk Heritage festival in the city. With an aim to support and promote the cause of conserving age-old traditional practices and art forms, the cultural group that started in 1996 organises festivals across the country to celebrate performing arts. This time around, one can expect international dance groups like Lions of Africa from Senegal and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Uthai Olena — Cleopatra-style outfit-clad Russian throat singer on the first day. On the other hand, the second day will celebrate Indian folk forms like Dollu Kunitha (drum dance of Karnataka), Theyyam from Kerala and Tappeta Gullu — Andhra Pradesh’s folk dance.
“We curated the festival with a simple aim of providing a platform for artistes of unique and unknown art forms and to also make people aware of them. Apart from performing arts, this year we also have special section of handicrafts from West Bengal,” says Nandini Mahesh, director of the organisation, adding that for a cause like this, there couldn’t have been a better venue than Taramati Baradari. A major highlight of the festival will be the pre-event activities comprising street folk performances including Telugu puppetry, Rajasthan’s Tera Talli and pottery making, among others. The event will also feature a mela (exhibition) with about 20 stalls showcasing the handicrafts of Telangana and various cuisines of India.
Rs.500. November 17 and 18, 7 pm onwards.