Kathak Workshops in Suva foster deeper cultural ties

A series of classical dance workshops aimed at deepening cultural ties and promoting traditional Indian arts is currently underway in Suva, led by renowned Kathak dancer and teacher Pundit Avijeet Chakravarty from Varanasi, India.

Speaking to fijivillage News, Pundit Chakravarty, who is in Fiji under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, says he has been conducting workshops at the Fiji Museum.

This workshop is open to all age group categories.

He says the programme is nearing completion, with the final session scheduled for tomorrow, followed by another three-day workshop next week.

The workshops have received positive feedback from participants, reflecting growing interest in Indian classical arts within Fiji’s multicultural community.

Pundit Chakravarty says he feels a strong cultural connection while in Fiji, particularly due to the widespread use of Fiji Hindi, which he described as closely linked to Bhojpuri spoken in the Varanasi region.

He emphasised the importance of Indian classical arts in shaping values and cultural identity.

Pundit Chakravarty says he began learning Kathak at the age of four and has been performing on stage for more than 40 years.

He brings over two decades of experience teaching Kathak to international students, including those with no prior background in classical dance.

He says that dance is not just his profession, it is his form of worship, adding that through dance, he feels a connection with God.

With World Hindi Day to be celebrated this Saturday, Pundit Chakravarty also highlighted his efforts to promote language and cultural understanding alongside dance, helping students improve their Hindi through conversation and storytelling.

He encouraged the public to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from visiting artists.