Poetesses, Dancers, and Magicians Light Up Hindustan Handicrafts Festival

Lucknow :  The Hindustan Handicrafts Festival, held at Smriti Upvan in the Ashiana area of Kanpur Road, transformed into a vibrant hub of cultural activities, leaving the audience spellbound with an eclectic mix of poetry, dance, and magic.

The cultural evening was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, MLA Gauri Ganj Sadar (Amethi District), Hon'ble Rakesh Pratap Singh, alongside Special Guest Amar Singh Lodhi, State President of Kisan Union Jantantrik, and Festival Chairpersons Arun Pratap Singh, Gunjan Verma, Ranveer Singh, and Hemu Chaurasia, by lighting the traditional lamp. The event was organized by Maa Gayatri Jan Seva Sansthan and Nishu Welfare Foundation.

The cultural stage kicked off with a delightful 'Kavi Sammelan' (Poetesses' Meet) organized by Shakti Bajpai, President of Ratnagiri Seva Sansthan. The literary session began with the lamp lighting ceremony by Nirupama, Ashok, and Punita Bhatnagar, followed by a 'Saraswati Vandana' presented by Madhu Pathak.

A constellation of talented women poets took to the stage and thoroughly entertained the audience with their engaging recitations. Prominent poetesses included Sheela Verma Meera, Dr. Surbhi Singh, Dr. Sarita Sadabahar, Rishi Srivastava, Sunita Raman, Rashmi Sharad, Kalpana Mishra, Anita Arora, Poonam Awasthi, Prof. Usha Bajpai, Dr. Madhu Pathak Manjhi, Mithu Rai, Akanksha Awasthi, Uma Mani, and Varsha Dixit. Their witty and heartfelt verses elicited much appreciation and laughter from the listeners. Following the poetry segment, Ratnagiri Seva Sansthan also honored various social workers for their outstanding contributions to society.

Following the literary feast, the stage transitioned to a captivating series of dance performances coordinated by Vicky Raj of 'Verve Dance Studio.' The segment began auspiciously with Abhay's soulful Ganesh Vandana, which immediately captivated the spectators. High-energy acts followed, including Rishika's performance on the popular "Deewani Mastani," Avantika's "Zalim Hip Hop," and Abhay Kumar's electrifying "Beta Ye Mera Adda," successfully setting the mood. Adwit Singh and Anvi Gupta’s dynamic dance presentations also earned loud applause. Adding a contemporary flavor, Shakib and Naman won hearts with their lively rap songs.

The evening concluded with a thrilling magic show presented by the renowned illusionist, Magician Mukesh Sharma. His captivating display of tricks and illusions left the audience utterly amazed and excited, providing a perfect, surprising finale to the night.

The event was successfully anchored by Pradeep Shukla, with the organizing committee members, including Monalisa, Roli Singh Chauhan, Manoj Singh Chauhan, Roli Jaiswal, and Vivek, present on stage to oversee the proceedings. The festival showcased the richness of Indian arts, providing a memorable cultural experience for the residents of Lucknow.