Farmers Movement Archive

Covid effect: Cultural fests, folk progs went missing in 2020

Ludhiana: Year 2020 has left a big cultural vacuum among Ludhianvis as folk programmes had been hit hard by the pandemic and Covid lockdowns. The city is known as the cultural hub of Punjab with major festivals and even international festivals taking place in Ludhiana. But this year, Covid has eclipsed the cultural activities in the city, in schools and colleges and even in villages. Even the Prof Mohan Singh Mela and cultural concerts by folk singers did not take place in the whole year. In the start of the year, Mexicano flavour was seen during 9th Punjab Multi-cultural Festival organised at Government College for Girls in collaboration with leading international folk ensemble Punjab Cultural Promotion Council (PCPC). In February 2020, the mesmerising Mexican show of dances and music and songs captivated the audience of thousands for hours. The Punjabi folklore were well depicted by college and Punjabi artists. Mexican folk ensemble “Espiritu Folklorica Danza ’ director Arturo Javier Salazar Alvarez was all praise for Punjabi hospitality. World heritage exponent Davinder Singh Chhina told TOI about the impact of Covid on cultural festivats. He said, “Such international exchange programmes are the need of the hour and education about international cooperation and multiculturalism should be imparted to our students. The PCPC had celebrated 20 glorious years of the inception of the PCPC and Mexican delegation in Punjab since 2002.” “Our mission is culture of peace and to bring world cultures on one common platform for spreading the message of love, peace and harmony,” he elaborated. The PCPC had even invited foreign folk delegations to perform in Punjab international folk festivals edition in November. However, due to the Covid situation worldwide the hosts had to cancel their international programmes. Dr Chhina’s ensemble had been representing Punjabi folklore in worldwide folk fests since 2001, but this pandemic year had restricted this ensemble and others also to stay back home in Ludhiana throughout the year. Not only world folklores, but Punjab cultural fiestas had also been hit hard this year due to Covid. Almost all world folk festivals taking place in many parts of Europe had to cancel their fests this year. Some festival organisers of Serbia and Poland and some other nations held their virtual online festivals only to give message of peace, friendship and good health to the whole world. This was stated by Chhina, who has propagated Punjabi folk traditions in major parts of Europe, Australia, Taiwan, Doha, South Korea and many parts of the world since 2001. While sharing positive expectations for 2021, he said, “We are expecting great world cultural revival after Covid challenges in the New Year and do hope to join world folk fests in Europe in summer to promote Punjab traditions, bhangra and gatka. We do expect to host folk delegations from Europe and South America in November next in our Punjab international folk festivals. World folk fest organisers also expecting a positive 2021 as far as organising world folk festivals.” Dampener for youth festivals Not only international festivals, but also university and various zonal youth festivals couldn’t take place this year due to Covid. Thousands of artists, folk singers, bhangra and gidha artists and musicians could not get a chance to perform anywhere due to lockdowns. DJ parties were the worst hit the whole season. Dholis couldn’t perform till October and could hardly find some marriage and any other programmes to perform once the state govt had eased some restrictions in November. Bansi Lal, an international fame dholi, said, “I could not perform in any festival and also I missed by musical band’s performance at the festivals and parties due to Covid. we witnessed such challenges for the first time in life.” He said, “Let the Covid sadness disappear soon and new hopes rise in 2021. Let the era of joy, folksongs, excitement and cultural activities revive in a big way .We do pray for the happy times to return and wish to see smiles on every face. We wish smiles to return among the world communities through international academic and cultural exchanges.” The Punjab International Folk Music and Dance Festival was organised by Ishmeet Singh Music Institute. Charan Kanwal Singh, director of the institute, department of cultural affairs, government of Punjab, said “We expect great revival of cultural fiestas in the New Year, though we have suffered a lot due to Covid challenges this year.” Celebrations checkmated by Covid Alumni Association of SCD Government College, Ludhiana, had planned a number of cultural activities in their alma mater in its centenary celebration year (1920-2020) like continuation of illustrious alumni lecture series, exhibition matches of alumni with current students in basketball and hockey and a mushaira on alumnus Sahir Ludhianvi’s death anniversary. Brij Bhushan Goyal, coordinator, Alumni Association, SCD Government College, Ludhiana, said, “Plans of the college as well as the alumni went haywire, first due to Covid-19 concerns and then due to prolonged farmers’ agitation. We are also eagerly awaiting a call from principal Dharam Singh Sandhu, who is perhaps waiting for a nod from the CM office for participation of the CM in the celebrations, who may participate either virtually or come personally. Once there is some respite, we will definitely celebrate the occasion in 2021.” Cultural activities on farmers In December, last year, the Punjabi folk singers had come to hog limelight by supporting the cause of Punjab farmers at Singhu border, eulogising the ‘kisan andolan’. Prominent folk singers Diljit Dosanjh, Ranjit Bawa and Kanwar Grewal have become icons by singing in favour of farmers and echoing the voice of farmers. This was the turning point for Punjabi folk singers and for the Punjabi folks as well. With the onset of the New Year most of the folk singers are focusing on farmer issues to win the hearts of the farmers in general and Punjabi audiences worldwide. Satinder Sartaj and many punjabi folk personalities had supported the cause of the farmers. Former chairman of Punjab Arts Council Surjit Patar had also announced to return his Padmashri award against the farm laws.

The Times of India

2021-01-11

Ludhiana