Hundreds of inmates of several orphanages here on Saturday night were accorded special treatment by the Rotary Club. They enjoyed folk dance, music and puppetry programmes presented by Myanmar theatrical group Yangon. Soon after the cultural programme, they interacted with foreign artists and shared dinner with them. Under the rotary international cultural exchange programme, the India Council for Cultural Relations under the Ministry of External Affairs sponsored the programme.
Samaresh (14) from an orphanage said the evening would remain memorable all his life as this was the first occasion where he and his friends were treated as guests. “I and other children were cheerful to be here in this arena. It seems we were in dream,” he added. Puppetry was most attractive programme for the children, he maintained. Jagannath Dham Rotary Club president Jhimily Pattnaik said it was an attempt to bring the under privileged children to the mainstream of society. They should not think they were left out and uncared for. The club has been doing a lot in this regard, she added.
Veteran puppetry artist of Myanmar Utun Kyig along with Momo Thuzar presented the puppetry show basing on mythical themes. This apart classical compositions choreographed by famous Guru New Nwesan entertained the audience. The Myanmar artists performed ballet dance basing on the Maynmar version of Ramayan which enthralled the spectators. Artists of Rangashalla, a city based cultural organization, presented Odissi and folk dances which were enjoyed by their Maynmar counterparts on the occasion. Fire Services DG Binay Behera inaugurated the cultural programme.