Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Well-choreographed and showing agility and grace, the dancers of the Surangama group perform superbly.- photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

It was a night of Indian music, dance and cuisine on Monday, as the Indian High Commission hosted a dinner and show in Stony Hill.

The featured performers for the show was the Surangama group led by Dr. Pushpa Prasad. Dr. Prasad is an icon in the Indian folk music industry. Her immediate family has followed her example and her three daughters and son make up the group. They promote the Indian language of Bhojpuri, which has found its way to many, countries outside the subcontinent, including Fiji and even the Caribbean. Surangama attempts to promote the language as an invaluable cultural heritage through dance and music. Their arrival and performance are all part of the Indian High Commission's move to increase the awareness and popularity of Indian culture in Jamaica.

Mostly folk dances

They performed mostly folk dances and a few hits from Bollywood movies. Most of the songs were of tales surrounding the rainy season, which is a time of great jubilation. Many of the pieces depicted women in independent roles, while at the same time the romantic element was never left out. Even if the lyrics were foreign to most of the guests, the music was definitely universal. Guests clapped and bounced along to the music of the group. The singers and dancers were accompanied by music on the synthesizer, as well as the tabla and octapad, which are percussion instruments.

After the show, guests were treated to some delectable Indian cuisine as well as some temptingly sweet treats. Guests included St. Kitts High Commissioner Cedric Harper and wife, Barbara; Dominican Republic Ambassador Filomena Navarro; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Chilean Ambassador Alfonso Silva, Jorge Crespo and daughter, Beatriz; William and Sandy Tavares-Finson; Al Niazi; Charles Eyo, of the Nigerian High Commission; Robert MacMillan, and Robert Haughton.