Sri Sri event: Venue flooded, but showers fail to dampen crowd enthusiasm

Performers protect themselves with plastic sheets as it rains during the opening day of the three-day World Culture Festival on the banks of the Yamuna. (Photo: PTI)

Repeated showers and hailstorm failed to dampen spirit of thousands of people who came to witness the opening day of the controversial World Culture Festival at the Yamuna floodplains here on Friday.

The venue was flooded with a sea of people as the evening progressed. For many spectators it was a spiritual journey with family through culture, and for others it was a platform for coming close to culture and traditions of the rest of the world. For children, however, it was a fun evening with unlimited snacks and cold drinks.

Musical and dance performances were appreciated by spectators of all age groups. Argentinean singer Patricia Sosa and Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj received loudest cheers from the crowd. Sosa performed with a troupe of 500 performers and Birju Maharaj choreographed a performance of 1,700 dancers.

The organisers were seen worried because of rain and hailstorm, but the heavy mood at the venue turned blissful with the reappearance of sun and a rainbow along with it. Thunder followed by heavy rains and hailstorm had left the organisers, participants and the onlookers drenched and everyone, including the performers on the stage, were seen rushing to find cover. The spectators and performers could be seen covering themselves with plastic sheets. Some others took out brightly coloured umbrellas and others were seen covering under their chairs to escape rain. Policemen and volunteers tried to manage the crowd, but could not control the chaos.

As the dusty Yamuna floodplains turned to slush, walking became virtually impossible and vehicles got stuck leading to a massive jam inside and outside the venue after the event.

Things changed when festival started on almost on time. The event started with a performance of 108 “dangri dhols” from Maharashtra. Then 1,050 priests chanted Vedic mantras. Performance of the Art of Living grand orchestra mesmerised the audience. 8,500 performers selected from 110 districts of country performed the great symphony together.

Dignitaries from the UAE, Russia, France, Nepal and other European countries addressed the crowd.

Hundreds of people failed to turned up at the venue on time due heavy traffic jams and long distances they had to walk after leaving public transport. Dalia Ghosh, a resident of Kolkata, who arrived at the Mayur Vihar Metro station at 1.30 pm, reached the venue around 7.30 pm. “Massive traffic jam and long distances to walk took six hours to reach the venue. We missed almost all the performances. Tomorrow we may try to reach well before the time,” said Ms Ghosh.

K. Krishnamoorthy, from Tamil Nadu, however, was happy after witnessing all the performances. He said that he had reached Mayur Vihar Extension Metro station at 11 am and walked around 3.5 kilometres to reach the venue at 4 pm.