Kathak programme to be staged at Katara

A variety of shows, including dance recitals, were held at Katara as part of the Indian Festival in March.

Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation, in collaboration with the Indian embassy in Qatar, will host a special show dedicated to Kathak - an Indian classical dance form - on August 5. The event will be staged at Katara Drama Theatre to mark the 69th Independence Day of India, which falls on August 15. The initiative is in keeping with Katara’s role in enriching the cultural and artistic scene in Qatar and shedding light on diverse international cultures, according to a statement.Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance. It traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as “kathakars” or storytellers. From the 16th century onwards, it absorbed certain features of Persian and Muslim traditions and Central Asian dance, which were imported by the royal courts of the Mughal era.In March, the Cultural Village attracted a large number of visitors during the Indian Festival. A wide range of cultural shows, including dance recitals, were staged at the Katara Amphitheatre as part of the festival, which also hosted some 40 stalls exhibiting different products and services at the Esplanade. A variety of handicrafts, clothes and cuisine, as well as henna tattooing, were on offer at the stalls.