The residents of Delhi-NCR are in for a cultural treat as the Sangeet Natak Akademi is organising a two-day cultural festival at India Gate on November 19 and 20.

The variety of cultural programmes to be held at the lawns of India Gate will include Chenda Melam or ethnic drum ensemble to be performed by Delhi Panchavadya Trust on both the days. The artists will be presenting Panchari Melam which is a percussion ensemble performed during temple festivals in Kerala and is one of the major forms of Chenda Melam and most popular in the temple percussion genre of kshetram vadyam.

The instruments that are included in Panchari Melam are Chenda, Ilathalam and base chenda (valanthala).

The students of the Kalaashish will be presenting a Kathak dance recital. Their performance will include Om Namah Shivaya in Bhopali Raag and Teen Taal which will be followed by a Tarana originally choreographed by Pandit Vijai Shankar on Drut Teen Taal and based on Raga Janasammohini. This presentation has been choreographed by Asavari Pawar.

On 19th Mohammad Shameem and his group will be presenting a puppet show while on 20th Kalabaaz Group will be presenting their puppet performance.

Among the dance recitals during the two days, there will be a Manipuri dance by Panthoibi Jagoi Marup and Odissi by Sanchari Foundation while on the last day Rudraksh will be performing Kathak dance.