Thousands watch Garba-Dandiya contest at MLA cultural festival in Sadak Arjuni

A Ras Garba-Dandiya contest was held in Sadak Arjuni during Navratri as part of the MLA Cultural Festival. The contest, held on the 23rd, drew an enthusiastic response from the public. Cultural colour blended with the Navratri fervour.

The contest was held in the grounds in front of Tejaswini Lawn, conceived by Rajkumar Badole, MLA of the Arjuni Morgaon assembly constituency and a former minister. Colourful traditional costumes, rhythmic dance movements and the beat of the dhol filled the whole area with energy. Thousands of spectators came to watch, giving the event a grand scale.

Teams from Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Chimur and Bhandara took part along with teams from Gondia district. The participants won over the audience with fine dancing and striking presentations. Spectators applauded every team's performance. Traditional Garba-Dandiya gave artists from different areas a stage to show their art. The contest was therefore not limited to entertainment but also became significant for cultural unity.

The event was presided over by Badole, the MLA and former minister. On the dais were Panchayat Samiti chairperson Chetan Wadgaye, Sadak Arjuni Nagar Panchayat president Tejram Madavi, BJP district general secretary Prashant Shahare, Zilla Parishad members Kavita Rangari and Chandrakala Dongarwar, Nationalist Congress Party district women's wing president Rajanitai Girepunje, BJP taluka mandal president Rajesh Kathane, BJP women's wing president Shitaltai Gaur and Sheshrao Girepunje.

Also present were Panchayat Samiti member Varsha Shahare, Nagar Panchayat vice-president Vandanatai Dongarwar, Nagar Panchayat chairperson Kamladevi Agrawal, Nagar Panchayat member Mahendra Vanjari, and councillors Shashikala Tembhurne, Dikshatai Bhagat, Rajani Parihar and Renu Agrawal. Shiv Sena taluka president Vilas Kapgate, sarpanch Prashant Balsanwar, former Zilla Parishad members Saritatai Kapgate, Vinod Barsagade and Laxmikant Tagde were among the many dignitaries present.

Vicky Sayyam and Priyanka Kore judged the contest. Hitesh Dongre gave the introductory address, while Jitendra Meshram and Munna Raut conducted the programme.

The MLA Cultural Festival gave local artists and those from different districts a chance to present their art. The initiative doubled the joy of Navratri and helped preserve and carry forward cultural tradition. Office-bearers of the MLA Cultural Festival Committee and all members of Nisarg Foundation, Sadak Arjuni, helped make the event a success.