Mela always Strong

The Association for the Development of Interest in The Indian subcontinent invites you to come and enjoy their 18th annual Mela show Saturday. Mela is a Hindi word that means a big party or festival, assures that all types of getting down will be present.Mela showcases several cultures that have existed in the Indian subcontinent from a multitude of time periods. Bhangra is an eclectic style of dance that has been performed for several centuries. It was originally unique to people in the Northeast but has since spread to the rest of India. Bhangra is noted for colorful costumes and the use of a drum called a dhol.Mela will also feature a classical trio consisting of a sitar player, a two-piece drum set called a tabla and a singer doing more traditional songs. A few of the dancers will showcase their skill in Bharatnatyam. It is a dance which has been around for over 3,000 years. It takes years for one to learn the art of Bharatnatyam, requiring mastery of the technique of movements in order to achieve grace, balance and a faultless sense of rhythm.If there’s one thing that the 120 or so performers in Mela have, it’s dedication. “You know Mela’s coming up when you walk into Wilson Commons and you hear Indian music blasting from the top [floors],” vice-president of ADITI and junior Vishal Didwarnia said.Didwarnia and President Karthik Rajasekaran never rest in their efforts to increase interest. Despite selling out the past two years they continue to promote Mela. In the years Mela has been on campus it has been one of the largest cultural shows. This is due primarily to member commitment.”Being a part of Mela is a great way to get away from all the schoolwork and to just be able to have fun, dance and meet tons of people,” Didwarnia said.Meltdown, Mela’s after-party, will take place in the Meliora. DJ Biz-R will be spinning hip-hop, reggae and bhangra. There is a $3 cover charge and a cash bar with drink specials, I.D.s are a must. Doors open at 10 p.m.Mela starts at 4 p.m. this Saturday in Strong Auditorium. Tickets are on sale at the Common Market and are $3 for students and $5 for the general public. Only a few tickets are left, but URTV will be filming the event and airing the show in the coming weeks on channel 18.Goldner can be reached at bgoldner@campustimes.org.