Basant Bahaar 2008 – Parampara, the family traditions

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By Alka Srivastava

Hum Sub organized yet another successful cultural event for Triangle Area residents - Basant Bahaar 2008. The event was held on Saturday, March 29 at the Green Hope High School auditorium in Cary. Basant Bahaar is supported by a grant from the Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival Committee, which encourages local arts and non-profit organizations.  

The theme for Basant Bahaar 2008 was Parampara – the family traditions. Parampara is a Hindi word meaning tradition. This theme was chosen because Hum Sub recognizes the importance of family traditions as communicated through various performing arts. Our ancestors in India used evocative traditions to cultivate connections between immediate family members and between generations. In today’s world, traditions help families grow together and promote a sense of identity. At Basant Bahaar 2008 many family members came together to exhibit traditions that strengthen family ties as well as bond them with Indian cultural heritage. For example, many of the performances saw mothers and daughters, and brothers and sisters sharing the stage together. Even the Masters of Ceremonies were three pairs of mothers and daughters, and one pair of father and son.  

Additionally, many of the performers presented art forms that were passed to them from previous generations or dances passed on to them by their esteemed gurus. The Guru-Shishya parampara is one of the most ancient traditions of India. Typically, the shishya (student) serves the guru with devotion, while the teacher imparts an art to the student. This tradition was highlighted in many of the performances at Basant Bahaar 2008, including two Thillanas.  

Hum Sub encourages participation from different regional groups of Indian origin. At Basant Bahaar 2008, the program consisted of art forms from various parts of India. There were outstanding classical music performances from east and north India. The audience was spell bound by performances in an array of classical dance forms, including Kathak, Bharatnatyam, and Odissi. Of course, a few energetic dances on catchy Bollywood numbers added masti to the mix. There was also a surprise in store for the audience – a dance performance by members of the Hum Sub Board of Directors, who were introduced to the audience by Hum Sub President during the dance.  

Like previous Hum Sub events, Basant Bahaar 2008 enjoyed support from many segments of the community. This event saw a record attendance of 700. Over 140 performers and choreographers showcased their talents at the event. The performers ranged in age from five-year olds to adults and seniors. Hum Sub hopes that with enthusiastic attendance and participation by the community members, the upcoming annual celebration, Cary Diwali, will also be a sensational event.