An ode to folk music and traditions of Punjab

From the beats of bhangra to the tales of Jaago and from desi humour to the folk songs of Punjab, the sixth edition of Mela Phulkari at Indian Habitat Centre turned Delhi into mini-Punjab. The mela, with the theme of ‘Jaago Punjab’, was aimed at familiarizing the young generation with the traditional handicraft and culture of Punjab. On one hand, the mela included installations and exhibits from rural Punjab – the handmade jewellery and phulkari dupatta made by the rural women; while on the other hand, a one-day cultural mela showcased the stunning performances.
Singer Harshdeep Kaur

Singers Harshdeep Kaur, Jasbir Jassi and Himani Kapoor sang some of the folk and Sufi songs. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who has been associated with the mela since its inception, was also present at the event. “Every year, I make my way to this Mela, and each time, I am inspired and awestruck. It is so exhilarating to watch the authentic culture of Punjab come alive through this Mela. It makes me stress-free,” said Imtiaz.
The evening began with a stand-up comic act by Soham Singh and Jagjit Singh, who reminded some of the audience members of their days when such acts were performed at the fairs. The event went onto the performances of Sardars of Sangrur, the soul-stirring ‘jaago’ by Sangrur di Mutiara, the energetic bhangra moves of Asees Kaur and her group and good ol’ Punjabi humour by a stand-up collective Saanu Kee - 2.0. The night ended with Jasbir Jassi’s soulful performance, who ditched his dancing tracks and choose folk songs like ‘Heer’ and ‘Challa’.