A slice of the northeast enthrals Lepakshi visitors

Artistes from northeast perform at Octave 2014. In the ‘pung cholom’, the dancers identify completely with the drum beat and perform intricate movements.

Artistes from the northeast perform 'Cheraw', a Mizo dance, at 'Octave 2014' in Guntur on Thursday. - Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

For visitors to the Lepakshi Craft Mela at Gunta Grounds in the evenings, a cultural feast is an added bonus, as troupes from the northeast present their superb skills during special shows.

The cultural festival, ‘Octave 2014’, is organised by South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, in coordination with the State government.

The artistes, dressed in the traditional north-eastern attire, set the stage on fire with their electrifying performances. Some martial stunts performed by Manipuri artistes were breathtaking, indeed.

Beginning with the Bihu dance of Assam, the festival covered ‘Maibi’ (describing a way of life of tribals), ‘Cheraw’ (a colourful and distinctive form of dance from Mizoram), men and women danced their way into hearts of onlookers with a rich fare.

In the ‘pung cholom’, the dancers identify completely with the drum beat and perform intricate movements. The traditional warrior dance from Nagaland also symbolizes the rich cultural milieu of the northeast.