Ben Tre: An Indian Punjabi folk dance cultural exchange programme was held in the southern province of Ben Tre on January 24 to mark the 52nd anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India (January 7, 1972-2024) and the 74th anniversary of the Indian Republic Day (January 26, 1950-2024).

Nguyen Van Trung, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, shared that the programme helps popularise the Indian folk dance to more Vietnamese audiences and consolidate the solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between the two sides.

Tushar Garg from the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City said that culture and exchanges between the two peoples play an important role in strengthening the relationship between the two countries. The programme is a positive step towards cooperation with Ben Tre province, and there will be more exchange activities to strengthen the ties between Vietnam and India in the coming time.

Participants had a chance to contemplate
popular Indian folk dances such as Jhmar, Jhang, Mirze-Sahiban, and Bhangra dances. In addition, typical dance performances and musical instrument ensembles of Ben Tre province including flute performances, and ‘don ca tai tu’ (southern amateur music) were also presented.

Punjabi dances are an array of folk and religious dances of the indigenous people of the Punjab region, straddling the border of India and Pakistan. The styles of Punjabi dances range from very high energy to slow and reserved, and there are specific styles for men and women./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency