Kolkata : Eminent dancer and actor Mamata Shankar unveiled Rhythm Dhaker Ladai 2010, a contest of the sound of drums (dhak) encompassing over 450 Durga Puja pandals of Kolkata and suburbs, over a period of 4 days from October 12-16.
‘Rhythm Dhaker Ladai’, an initiative of the N R Group of companies, was launched in presence of well-known personalities of the music fraternity, including Pandit Ajay Chakraborty, percussionist Nandan Bagchi and Tanmay Bose, singer Chandrabali Rudra and classical vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty here.
Mamata Sankar also launched the official website of ? Dhaker Ladai?.
“One can notice the popularity of dhak when you hear the bits and rhythm played in a puja pandal. It makes you feel like dancing. We should be obliged to the dhakis (drummers), as they are the one, who are still trying to cultivate the dying art,” Mamata Sankar told IBNS.
The organizers said 450 puja committees will participate in “Rhythm Dhaker Ladai- 2010″. Out of them, 45 puja committees will be short listed for the final round.
Renowned personalities from the music industry will be in the panel of judges.
The judges will visit selected pandals and will short list best performing Dhaki groups who will qualify for the semi finals.
From them, six puja committees will be chosen for the mega finals. The whole event will be judged keeping in mind the traditional aspects of the Dhakis and on their performance and attire.
Marketing manager, N R Group, Dwaipayan Das said: ” Dhaker Ladai is an event which showcase the cultural heritage of the dhakis of West Bengal has stepped into its seventh consecutive year. We organize this event to boost hapless dhakis to flourish their skills and ensure that the next generation of dhakis do not give up their ancestral profession.?
?Rhythm Dhaker Ladai- 2010 promises rich cash rewards not only for the Dhakis but also for the puja committees for their patronage and encouragement. Also the best solo Dhak and Kashar players wioll be rewarded,? Das added.
This year Rhythm Dhaker Ladai- 2010 will leave the boundary of Kolkata and make its entry into the surrounding Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas districts.
Drummer Gokul Das, who won Dhaker Ladai in 2004, will judge preliminary rounds.
Praising Das, Ajay Chakraborty said: “I am involved with Rhythm Dhaker Ladai since six years and every year is a new experience for me. The instrument dhak is evolving and developing day by day. Gokul Das is not only a fantabulous dhaki, he has performed under Zakir Hussain in the United States, Europe and Far East. He started an academy for the dhakis, where one can learn how to be a professional in this field”.