Philatelist N Sridevi has put together a new stamp collection on classical and folk dance forms of India. This will be on display on October 5, 6 and 7 during ‘Nitya Nritya – 2018’ at Khincha auditorium, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on Race Course Road. A series of dance programs will also be held on the occasion.
Nitya Nritya – 2018 is a tribute to late eminent musicologist and art critic Sri BVK Shastri on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Along with the many dance forms, Sridevi has incorporated stamps on noted dance proponents like Uday Shankar, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Vallathol Narayana Menon. The collection also includes joint issue stamps between India and Russia, India and Mexico, India and Japan and others.
The collection is not only visually appealing but also has educational value because the philatelist provides information about each stamp and what it represents.
Some of the dance forms depicted for the stamps include Valar, the typical dance on Garasias of Rajasthan; Kayang, a popular dance form of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh; Hozagiri, a folk dance which is almost a part of the daily life of Reang people in Tripura; Velakali, a dance predominantly performed by Kundividians and Nairs in Kerala; Ghoomar, a traditional folk dance of the Bhil tribe, which was later embraced by other Rajasthani communities; Toda, the traditional dance of Todas, the tribals of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu; Jamhang Tsouthong, a tribal dance of Khiamngan Naga tribe of Nagaland; Bhortal, a folk dance of Assam; Cheraw, a ritual dance performed in Mizoram; Gotipua, a traditional dance form in Odisha; Chholiya, a dance form practiced in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand; Koli, a folk dance practised by the Koli community in Maharashtra; and many others.