Shillong, Oct 4: The Laban locality on Tuesday reverberated with Mumbai beats as 30 of a team of drummers performed on the occasion of Durga Puja at the residence of advocates Anuradha Paul and Kaustav Paul.
The musicians, including four women, are part of Team Kedarnath from Mumbai. They drummed up the rhythm on Navami that is commonly heard during Lord Ganesh festival in Maharashtra.
Harshada Bhostekar, a woman drummer, said it was the group’s first performance in Shillong. “We have been to many states but this is the first time in the North East and also first performance on the occasion of Durga Puja,” said Bhostekar as she adjusted the large drum tied around her waist.
Rakhi Dongre, another woman member, looked exhausted from the 30-minute-long performance but the high spirits sparkled in her eyes. “Though carrying this drum may look difficult to others, but for us, it is a daily affair,” said Bhostekar.
The Kedarnath team was formed in 2018 by Yash Jadhav, who was also present during the performance. He gradually found the other young talents in the group. Now, there are over 100 members.
When pointed out, Bhostekar agreed that the rhythm was unlike the usual dhak (drum) played during the puja and that it had a strong flavour of Mumbai.
The narrow road in front of the private puja was teeming with onlookers, many of whom grooved as the drum tempo picked up. This reminded one of Manoj Vajpayee’s energetic dance in the movie Taandav.
Kaustav Paul said he met the group in Mumbai in 2018. ” I studied in Pune and would attend Ganesh puja and the celebrations in Mumbai. It was during one of the performances during Ganesh puja that I met the young performers. The other team of traditional dhakis is from Alipur Duar and performs every year during our puja,” added Paul.
The Kedarnath members will perform at the immersion ghat in Polo on Wednesday.
