GBC@IV: Over 350 artistes to perform on 14 stages from airport to program venue

In alignment with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision, the Department of Culture in Uttar Pradesh has finalized arrangements to welcome guests attending the Ground Breaking Ceremony (GBC@IV) with a diverse range of cultural festivities, according to an official statement.

A total of 14 stages are being erected from the airport to the venue at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan (IGP) in Lucknow, where 350 artists from 22 cultural troupes will showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage through various performances.

Bollywood artists will grace the occasion at IGP for two days, with a special Kathak dance drama on Ram Stuti to be performed by the Birju Maharaj Kathak Sansthan. On February 19-20, audiences at IGP will be entertained by Bollywood performances, including a Kathak dance drama on Ram Stuti by 12 artists from Birju Maharaj Kathak Sansthan on the 19th, and enchanting melodies by popular playback singer Monali Thakur. Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej’s band and flautist Rasika Shekhar will mesmerize the audience with their presentations on the 20th.

Various stages will be set up at strategic locations, including in front of the airport, near the airport-to-Shaheed Path flyover, in front of the martyrs’ statue on Shaheed Path, 1090 Chauraha, Women Power Line, Samata Mulak Chowk, Sangeet Natak Academy, along Lohia Path leading to IGP via the flyover, and at gate numbers one and two of IGP.

Prominent artists scheduled to perform include Rajesh Sharma and Jagriti Pal from Mathura presenting the Mayur dance, Vijay Yadav and Sheetla Prasad Verma from Ayodhya performing the Faruwahi dance, Prakriti Yadav presenting the Awadhi dance, Rajesh Gaur and Satish Kumar from Azamgarh performing the Kahrwa dance, Umesh Kannaujiya and Salturam presenting Gazipur’s Dhobiya dance, and Preeti Singh and Kruti Srivastava performing Prayagraj’s Dhediya folk dance.

Furthermore, Nishant Singh Bhadauria and Imran Khan Rai from Jhansi, along with Khazan Singh and Mahipal Singh from Mathura, will present the Bamrasia folk dance. Asha Kumari will showcase Sonbhadra’s Jhoomar dance, Santosh Singh will perform the Adivasi dance, and Banti Rana will present Pilibhit’s Tharu dance.