Indian dancers to welcome PM Modi with 'utsav' at Ricoh Coliseum

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Ricoh Coliseum, a hockey rink in Toronto on Wednesday, where almost 10,000 people will gather, a dance group trained by renowned classical dancer Lata Pada, is all set to give an enthralling performance.

The dance group is likely to deliver a 11-minute performance calling it 'utsav' - a mix of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Bhangra, Ghumar and Garba.

"We are calling it a utsav because it is a great celebration, for our beloved Prime Minister ji from India coming here. Utsav is a collection of the folk dances and the classical dances. So, we have Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Bhangra, Ghumar from Rajasthan, Garba from Gujarat and we also have a very special piece which is dedicated to Bharat Mata- 'Vande Matram',that we are performing," Pada told ANI.

Pada said it is a celebration of the great culture and traditions of India.

"And the fact that here in Canada we are keeping it alive. All these wonderful youngsters who are practicing, keeping nurturing that art form. It is an important relationship and I think it is a new beginning on many fronts, on trade, on energy, on culture, on many fronts it is important," she added.

Pada further said that Canada is a multi-cultural country so everyone is keen to keep their own identity and culture.

"So, you have no idea how much interest there is in learning sangeet, nritya, there is a lot of interest. There is a lot of theatre in Gujarati, Marathi and Tamil. It is a huge community of all parts of India," she added.

Jaanvi, one of the artiste rehearsing for the Indian diaspora event, said, "You know how India has different cultures and different states so we are just incorporating all of them together. We have got Rajasthani dance, Guajarati dance, Bhangra, classical. We are hoping to show Modi all the dance and styles of India."

In the final leg of his three-nation trip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for Canada on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi will meet his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper in Ottawa.

This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 42 years. Modi will also reach out to the Indian diaspora in Toronto and Vancouver.

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