India puts its best foot forward

The drums are beating, folk dancers are on their toes, artists have given the finishing touches and now the tableaux are all set to roll on January 26.

The drums are beating, folk dancers are on their toes, artists have given the finishing touches and now the tableaux are all set to roll on January 26.

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This year, there are 21 tableaux — 13 are from the states and eight are from the different Central ministries — participating in the parade.

The Karnataka tableau this year is a recreation of an 8th Century Pattadakal Temple, which is a World Heritage Site.

The tableau is accompanied by artists performing Dollukunitha, a folk dance performed in praise of Lord Shiva.

“For centuries, this art of drum beating is passed on from father to son in our community,” said Takappa (who goes by one name), the leader of the team that has come from Shimoga district.

The Kerala tableau has a majestic Kaalan Kolam (mask and head gear of a deity) from a mythological tale associated with the celebration of Padayani, an annual festival celebrated in Kali temples of central Kerala.

The Ministry of Culture with Sangeet Natak Akademi has brought musical instruments from the Akademi’s museum.

There are percussion instruments like nagara (a large drum), khol (from West Bengal), and traditional folk instruments like bankia (a form of brass trumpet) and the pepa (wind instrument from Assam).

Mumbai’s dabbawallahs form Maharashtra’s theme for this year.

Goa will show off the venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which is to be held in the state every year.

Among others is the Uttaranchal which has the theme of Kumbh Mela 2010.