Bollywood music, Indian classical dance liven up wintry Beijing

Beijing, Mar.10 : Beijing came alive this weekend with blazing Bollywood music; film and classical Indian dances mostly by Chinese artists at an Indian consumer show here.

Hundreds of Chinese shoppers thronged to a well lit lobby of the lounge of a busy mall decorated with a life size picture of Taj Mahal and draped with tri-colour buntings at ''Incredible India Consumer'' show where students of the Indian Cultural Centre enthralled them with scintillating dance and songs from latest Bollywood movies.

As the well trained artists draped in Indian costumes danced to A R Rehman''s ''Jai Ho'' tune with Taj providing the back drop, several Chinese shoppers occupying every inch of space were seen swaying to the lively music.

The event, inaugurated by Indian Ambassador S Jaishankar.

Besides the music and dance, the audience were treated to a demonstration of yoga as well as Indian dishes like samosas, chicken tikkas and masala chai supplied by the Taj Pavilion, an Indian restaurant run by Mumbaite, Manosh Pastakia, who made Beijing his home for over 18 years.

The dancers themselves were excited over the opportunity to perform specially before their home audience.

"I am very excited to dance here" said Jang Chang Jing, who calls herself by Indian name Akshara.

Besides classical dances, they also danced to Bollywood numbers like ''Bumbro'' from ''Mission Kashmir'', ''Deedi tera devar deewana'' from ''Hum Aapke Hain Kaun''.

The show called "Namaste India" under the banner of Incredible India Consumer show was conducted by India Tourism office based in Beijing.