BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Saturday, March 16, the Englewood Public Library hosted a fabulous Indian extravaganza.
Holi, the ancient festival of India, was brought to life in a concert by Kulture Kool, a school specializing in south Asian performing arts.
The event, led and narrated by Kulture Kool Director Archana Athalye, was divided into two parts. It began with a performance by five of the school’s teen Bollywood dance students.
Adorned in brilliant colored costumes and gold jewelry, the girls gracefully whirled and pirouetted in two traditional folk dances inspired by the dance, “Garba,” from the state of Gujarat in western India.
All the seats on the main floor as well as the viewing areas around the second floor were filled with local residents as well as dozens of Indian families who had come to see the dancers display their talent.
The dancing was followed by a Hindustani classical vocal presentation of three ragas by noted musician Rajesh Paranjape, who was accompanied on the tabla (Indian drums) by his son Chinmay and Munj Rawal playing the harmonium (a keyboard instrument).
Athalye explained that Indian music is actually very difficult to perform because there is no sheet music.
“You may have an idea of what you want to portray, but you have to improvise,” Athalye said. “Indian musical performers have to be creative and intuitive as well as musically talented.”
One of the Bollywood dancers who performed at the library, 12-year-old Sonal, who has been dancing since she was 2, explained how the school makes the learning process easier.
“At the end of every class, we make a video so we can see how everything looks,” Sonal said.
Sonal as well as all the other performers at the Englewood library Holi festival program take or teach classes at Kulture Kool. The school was founded 10 years ago by Athalye.
“I have been involved with music all my life. I used to work at the music company EMI in Mumbai. When I came to the U.S. in 2002 and settled in New Jersey, I brought Indian musicians over to perform here,” Athalye said. “Then, when my son was growing up, I wanted to find a school where he could take lessons in Indian music, but I could not find any schools, so I started my own.”
Kulture Kool now has four locations—Rutherford, West New York, Hoboken and Glenridge, and services over 250 students throughout north and central New Jersey, offering more than 15 programs for children and adults. Many Hindustani and Carnatic music specialties are taught, including Bollywood dancing, voice training, singing, piano, tabla, sitar, guitar, drums and musical theater. There are also special classes for children, a Learn to Read Program for ages 3 to 7, and Guru Kool, a cultural immersion program.
Kulture Kool students and faculty make presentations in schools, community centers and libraries. As with the Holi festival program at the Englewood Public Library, they are always greeted with great enthusiasm by large audiences.
The history of Holi
At Kulture Kool’s program at the Englewood Public Library, Athalye explained that Holi is the festival of spring and a colorful and joyous Indian holiday.
“We dress in color, decorate our homes with color and even sprinkle colored water on one another,” she said.
Holi is considered as one of the most important and revered festivals in the Hindu community in India as well as in other countries. It is an ancient festival originally known as “Holika” and is sometimes called the “festival of love,” because on this day people come together and offer forgiveness each other.
It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.
Sculptures and murals on the walls of old temples of medieval India indicate that the festival of Holi was celebrated in the 16th century.
There are also several legends associated with the festival of Holi, all of which depict triumph of good over evil—lending a philosophy to the festival.
All of the tradition, exuberance and color of Holi were dramatized by Kulture Kool at their Englewood Public Library performance on March 16.
Athalye remarked, “India has 28 states and each state has its own unique language, music, dances, food and culture. It’s wonderfully diverse, but there are a few things which unify the country: cricket, Bollywood movies and Holi!”
