The tableau of Chhattisgarh gave an enchanting glimpse of State’s traditional and folk musical instruments as it cruised down the majestic Rajpath on Tuesday. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, received the tableau with waving hands as it passed in front of the saluting base during Republic Day celebrations.

 

The spectators greeted the tableau with a huge round of applause and were spellbound to see the huge moving model of a tribal male playing a drum while performing ‘Gaur’ dance in rear part of the tableau. On both the edges of the tableau, dancers performing dance and playing various rhythmic instruments are depicted. Other instruments displayed on the tableau are ‘agalgoja’, ‘copdodka’, ‘maandar’, ‘dev nagada’, ‘daahak’, ‘nagada’, ‘dafadaa’, ‘sarangi’, bamboo etc.

 

The audiences were mesmerised by depiction of a giant tribal girl adorned with traditional ornaments in the middle portion of the tableau playing ‘Dhankul’ musical instrument, which is used on the occasion of special rituals in Bastar division such as ‘Teeja-jagaar’ and ‘Laxmi-jagaar’.

 

The musical instrument is made from objects used in day-to-day life such as earthen pot, bow and bamboo cane. The tableau summarises the broad horizon of Chhattisgarh’s folk life and earmarks the musical instruments of tribal society.

 

Tribal dancers accompanied the tableau, performing folk dance. The middle portion depicts musical instruments ‘Todi’ and ‘Tuhri’, which are played on auspicious occasions by blowing air into it. Bastar’s ‘Gaur’ dance is displayed on ‘Todi’, female dancers carrying a special instrument called Gunja, which is an iron rod with iron bead on top are also shown.

 

The tableau gave international recognition to folk musical instruments of State and people across the world will be able to know about the unique and affluent culture of Chhattisgarh.