Traditions Come Alive on Day 3 of SPIC MACAY Fest
Evening performances drew larger crowds. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia’s flute opened the concert session.
Hyderabad: The third day of SPIC MACAY International Convention at IIT Hyderabad as usual started with morning yoga and meditation, followed by powerful performances by Padma Shri Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Vidushi A. Kanyakumari and Manipuri artist Khumukcham Romendro Singh.
The afternoon opened with the Hojagiri dance by Debasis Reang. Known for its low centre of gravity and controlled upper-body movements, the performance held the audience still in attention as the dancer balanced earthen pots on his head and stood on bottles while moving to a ritualistic rhythm.
Next came Purulia Chau by Tarapada Rajak, a form that drew on martial strength and stylised mythological storytelling. Armed with masks and powerful body movements, the dancers brought folk epics into motion. The session concluded with a soulful presentation of Kabir Gayan by Padma Shri Prahlad Singh Tipanya, whose earthy voice and ektara gave new life to Kabir’s verses on truth, simplicity and inner reflection.
Evening performances drew larger crowds. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia’s flute opened the concert session. His long, meditative phrases brought a rare calm to the gathering. He was followed by Yuva SNA awardee Abhishek Raghuram, whose Carnatic vocal performance displayed intense manodharma and voice control.
Mridangam maestro Padma Shri Yella Venkateswara Rao accompanied him with remarkable synchrony, creating a layered and dynamic musical conversation. Students responded with focused silence, many watching Indian classical music performed live for the first time.
The day also featured Manipuri artist Khumukchan Romendro Singh presenting Pung Cholom. The audience witnessed a tradition where the dancer drums while leaping and spinning, each movement governed by breath, balance and rhythm. This form, drawn from Nata Sankirtana, lies at the intersection of spiritual expression and martial discipline. Singh’s performance stood out for its intensity and technical clarity.
Dr Rama Guruji, director of the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE), IIT Hyderabad, felicitated him for his work in bringing living traditions into academic spaces.
