Immerse Yourself In The Unexplored Indian Folk Dance Traditions Of Lavani This Month

Raised in a family with interests in arts, culture, history and travel and training in Hindustani vocal classical music and Odissi dance from a tender age, growing up Shreyoshi had always wondered how one could possibly extend the scope of art forms beyond the periphery of a niche circle. With most classical dance events being free of cost, she wondered what it would entail to enhance curiosity amongst people for the arts so that performing artists do not need to struggle to maintain a sustainable income.

Her career as a Management Consultant and her interests in the arts and travel took her to various parts of India to experience art with the practitioners, up-close. She realized early on that despite India being home to a wide array of dance forms, music gharanas, theatre practices, martial arts, storytellers, craft forms, textiles and a whole lot of cultural practices and traditions, it is still a challenge for the art enthusiast, culture aficionado and the discerning traveller to experience the country through its arts & culture.

This lack of access gave birth to ImmerseGo, a culture impact organization working towards preservation and promotion of the tangible and intangible art forms and culture practices through immersive culture experiences. One of the most prolific social objectives that this tour serves, includes looking after the sustenance of artisan communities by providing them with a means of livelihood, apart from increasing their engagement with an urban audience. She also feels that cultural enhancement is the natural and almost inevitable consequence of the growth of cities, as witnessed around the world. Such a purpose could only be served by an initiative which brings the arts to the forefront of the urban experience.

Hence, to begin this year on a creative note, ImmerseGo has set up an immersive cultural experience - Lasya’20, around the arts, culture and heritage patronised by the Marathas, in Pune, Maharashtra, as a definitive break from metropolis clamour.

The immersive experience is around the revival of the folk art form of Lavani (a sensuous and energetic folk dance of Maharashtra) besides being an interactive space providing other experiences.

Visiting a Lavani cluster is still frowned upon in several Maharashtrian households. However, interactions with artists revealed that they are always excited to meet new people, to perform, as well as learn something new, just like anyone else. Urban men and women have been showing interest in going back to their roots, in understanding Indian culture, its customs and its arts like never before.

This experience aims at throwing light on the life of the artists and their practices, busting myths around artists and the art clusters and to encourage people to embrace the art form in a big way. It is certainly a means through which one can release the burden of day-to-day life and overcome any emotional excess.

The experience around Lavani is being offered in collaboration with Bhushan Kargaonkar, who has been engaged in reviving Lavani by giving it a theatrical flavour for the urban audience under the banner Kali Billi Productions, all over India.

Experience Lasya’20 as ImmerseGo takes you through the former culture capital of the Marathas – Pune- and uncovers its stories, folklores and the history of Wada architecture, craft clusters and much more. One can then slip into the cultural ethos of 18th century Maharashtra by reliving the magic of the Baithaks, as well as witnessing the grace, beauty, and thunder of Lavani performances in their original avatar.

This curated artisanal experience includes a Lavani workshop, art cluster visits to one of the oldest Coppersmith clusters of India, Lavani performances, guided engagements with artisans, culture historians and ethnographers, museum visits, food tours and a lot more.

Begin this New Year 2020 on an exciting note and experience Pune and its neighbourhood with ImmerseGo through the eyes of traditional artisans, crafts persons, historians, anthropologists and many others, who have been contributing to what still makes Pune, the culture capital of the Marathas.

For details, call 91-9810693329, 91-9871091529 or email at hello.immersego@gmail.com

For more updates and other exciting experiences follow @immerse.go on Instagram and on Facebook-ImmerseGo

Support ImmerseGo as it works towards revival of traditional art forms through its stories.

Experience Dates : 23rd to 26th January, 2020

Location : Pune, Sanaswadi, Maharashtra

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