When baazigars became jadugars

CHANDIGARH, April 15: It is not Shah Rukh Khan who deserves the song, Baazigar o baazigar, tu hai bada jadugar8230;, but these acrobats of Punjab. They were synchronisation and co-ordination personified and enthralled the audience with their impressive gymnastic feats.

The world went crazy yesterday when Chris Keeny walked on his hands into the Guinness Book. But this evening we saw many Keenys among the baazigar performers as they did their stunts standing on their fists. It was the third day of the tercentenary celebrations arranged jointly by the Chandigarh Administration and the North Zone Cultural Centre. And proved to be an enjoyable one after yesterday8217;s sub-standard stuff.

The evening was dedicated to the country8217;s martial dance forms and began with Chhau. No programme of martial dance can be complete without Kerala8217;s Kalaripayattu. Kalaripayattu exponents thrilled the Chandigarh audience with their remarkable kicks and blows moves that can kill if the exponent loses concentration and actually strikes his partner. The Lesyam dancers from Maharashtra had many holding their breath with their stunts. They broke a coconut put on the head of a dancer and an onion from beneath the chin.