Folk dances, music, rap and Kathak enthral audiences at historic Malla Mahal; winners of solo dance competition and youth poetry meet felicitated
Almora: The second day of the seven-day Jai Golju Mahotsav 2026, being held at the historic Malla Mahal in Almora, witnessed a vibrant blend of cultural, literary and artistic activities. The star night showcased the diverse folk traditions of different parts of India, while performances in folk dance, classical dance, music and rap captivated the audience. A solo dance competition and a youth poetry meet themed ‘Developed India’ also provided a platform for emerging talent.
Star night showcases India’s cultural diversity
The star night featured a variety of traditional performances, including the Raibanshi folk dance from West Bengal, Sahariya folk culture from Rajasthan, the Rouf dance of Kashmir and Ghoomar from Haryana. The colourful costumes, distinctive rhythms and traditional dance forms offered audiences a glimpse into the country’s rich cultural diversity.
Premarth Kathak Kala Kendra of Almora presented a Kathak performance, while Kathak dancer Kavya Bisht impressed the audience with her artistic presentation. Singers Shivani Negi and Naveen Pathak added a musical touch to the evening, while Abhijay Goswami’s rap performance brought a contemporary flavour to the programme.
The combination of folk traditions, classical dance and modern music made the star night one of the key attractions of the festival.
Swati wins solo dance competition
The solo dance competition held as part of the festival saw enthusiastic participation from young performers. Swati secured first place, followed by Aarohi in second place and Bhavika in third place.
The competition provided a platform for young artists to showcase their talent, creativity and stage skills, highlighting the importance of encouraging emerging performers through cultural events.
Khushi Salal tops youth poetry meet
A youth poetry meet on the theme ‘Developed India’ was organised on the second day of the festival. Young poets expressed their thoughts on national development, the country’s future and contemporary social issues through their compositions.
Khushi Salal secured first place, Khushi Joshi finished second, and Monika Pant secured third place. The event encouraged young literary talents to express their ideas and creativity, adding a literary dimension to the cultural celebrations.
Guests highlight the importance of cultural festivals
The programme was attended by former MLA and former Deputy Speaker of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Raghunath Singh Chauhan, former minister of state rank Bittu Karnataka, Vice-Chairperson of the Uttarakhand Safai Karamchari Commission A.K. Sikander Pawar, and Mahesh Joshi, Vice-Chairperson of the Haryana Kala Parishad, among other guests.
The guests highlighted the role of cultural festivals in preserving and promoting folk traditions, art and literature. Such events, they noted, provide opportunities for artists and young participants to showcase their abilities while encouraging cultural exchange among different regions.
Other dignitaries present included District Tourism Officer P.K. Gautam, Dr. Laxman Suthar, Dr. Manjusha Suthar, Dr. Jeevan Mapwal, Dr. Nidhi Mangal, Dr. Santosh Bisht, Shweta Upadhyay, Senior Branch Manager of the District Cooperative Bank, Deepak Bhatt, Kamal Verma, Bhagwat Bisht, Bachchu Lal Verma, Rashmi Pandey, Himali Joshi, Nikita Mehra, Ashish Santolia and Bhaskar Joshi, among others.
Bhavana Malhotra conducts the programme
The programme was conducted by Bhavana Malhotra. Members of the organising team, including Prakash Bisht, Ravi Rautela, Vineet Bisht, Shubham Rautela, Mayank Rautela, Naina Bisht, Lalit, Amar Bora, Neeraj Chauhan, Manoj Joshi and Harish Satwal, were also present and contributed to the arrangements.
The second day of Jai Golju Mahotsav brought folk dance, classical art, contemporary music and literature together on a common platform. Performances representing different states, alongside opportunities for local artists and young literary talents, highlighted the cultural richness of Almora and the importance of nurturing India’s diverse artistic traditions.
