Indian students introduced Vitebsk residents to their traditions and rituals as part of the «Dialogue of Cultures» project
Namaste! This traditional Indian greeting, which translates to "I bow to you", was used to welcome readers and visitors to the Vitebsk Regional Library.
A riot of colors, vibrant national costumes, rhythmic and energetic dances, Bollywood films, aromatic spices – this is an incomplete list of associations that arise when India is mentioned. Almost every one of us has a desire to travel, but not everyone can realize it. Those who wished to get a little closer to their dream – to visit one of the oldest and most original Eastern countries – were able to do so within the framework of the project "Dialogue of Cultures".
Indians – students of Vitebsk State Medical University, foreign guests, as well as library staff – presented the peculiarities of national customs and rituals during their performances. Kumar Sandeep spoke in detail about numerous holidays and festivals, and revealed the meaning of the traditional mudra gesture, where the palms are joined and the fingers are directed upwards: in this way, the energies of both hands are united, demonstrating goodwill.
Bivas Atindra brought the national women's costume, the sari, to show. He explained that there are numerous variations depending on the geographical location and life circumstances. The students also demonstrated unusual women's jewelry, each of which carries a specific meaning. For example, the bindi, a red dot on the forehead, symbolizes a happy and prosperous marriage. Mehndi, or mehendi – a traditional drawing of plant patterns with henna on the hands and feet of Indian women – has today become popular among representatives of the fair sex all over the world.
The culture of India is impossible to imagine without its colorful dances. In a stylized performance, Oksana Demidenko, using special plasticity of movements, gestures, and facial expressions, managed to fully immerse the event guests in the atmosphere of the East.
Instructor Tatyana Storchevaya introduced the audience to yoga, a wellness system that perfects the soul and body. She herself underwent training at the Himalayan Yoga Academy in Rishikesh. This is the largest center for training yoga instructors. She supplemented her talk about the mysterious and colorful India with a demonstration of several asanas (posture exercises) for a good mood.
– The project
"Dialogue of Cultures" – is one of the new areas of our activity. Last year, we held a presentation of Sri Lanka, in the spring we plan to organize a meeting dedicated to Jewish culture, and in the future – China. Thanks to such events, our visitors and readers have the opportunity to learn about different countries, and foreign students can present their national cultures, – believes Tatyana Adamyan, Director of the Vitebsk Regional Library.Natalia Kamleva, "Vitebskiye Vesti"