Folk fusion, Ganga aarti light up Bithoor festival’s grand finale

Kanpur: The 3-day Bithoor festival concluded on Saturday with a vibrant confluence of folk culture, classical traditions and spiritual fervour. The closing day witnessed colourful performances from different regions of the country and culminated in a spiritually uplifting Ganga aarti at Patthar Ghat.Folk performances from Braj, Bundelkhand and Punjab kept the festive spirit alive throughout the day. In the evening, the banks of the Ganga were illuminated with rows of lamps as devotees gathered for the Ganga Aarti, adding a divine aura to the celebrations.
Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana participated in the Aarti of Mother Ganga amid chanting of Vedic mantras and performed puja at Patthar Ghat. Addressing the gathering, he paid tributes to the historic and spiritual legacy of Bithoor, describing it as a land rich in cultural and religious heritage. He said the festival reflected India's unity in diversity and also honoured several participating artists.The day-long cultural programme began with a traditional Braj Holi performance by Deepak Sharma and his team from the Girraj Braj Folk Art Institute. Depicting Radha-Krishna and the Gopis playing Holi with flowers, the presentation brought the joyous spirit of the Falguni festival to life. A re-enactment of the famous Lathmar Holi of Barsana, along with the Peacock Dance and Charkula Dance, enthralled the audience.Ramesh Pal's troupe from Bundelkhand presented the energetic Pai-Danda dance. The rhythmic drum beats and synchronised movements reflected the valour and heroic traditions of the region, drawing loud applause from spectators.Representing Punjab's martial traditions, Rupinder Singh and his team performed Gatka. Their daring stunts and skilled handling of swords and sticks created an atmosphere of excitement. Special demonstrations, including acts performed with eyes bandaged and using ice blocks and coconuts, became a major attraction.In the classical segment, Mohan Mishra of the Hariharpur Gharana delivered a soulful vocal recital, while Shweta Verma and her team presented a graceful Kathak performance, adding artistic elegance to the event.The festival concluded with the Ganga Aarti conducted under the leadership of Pandit Kalicharan Dixit. The echo of Vedic chants and the presence of devotees filled the air with devotion. Following the Aarti, Anshuman Maharaj of the Banaras Gharana presented the Kashi Ras Vadya Vrinda Jugalbandi. Accompanied by sarod, sitar, sarangi, flute and tabla, the rendition of "Masane Ki Holi" provided a distinctive and memorable musical finale to the grand celebration.