Telangana culture shines at Pravasi Parichay in Saudi Arabia

Telangana Day celebrations in Saudi Arabia enthralled audiences with the State’s cultural diversity, from Adilabad tribal Mathura dance to Hyderabadi Marfa, Qawwali, and Bonalu festival performances. The Pravasi Parichay 2025 event highlighted Telangana’s Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb for the diaspora in Riyadh

Dubai: Telangana’s rich cultural and artistic heritage, from the tribal traditions of Adilabad to the cosmopolitan spirit of Hyderabad, enthralled audiences during Telangana Day celebrations in Saudi Arabia, reflecting the State’s famed Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb.

The celebrations were part of Pravasi Parichay 2025, a diaspora engagement event organised by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. Telangana’s segment, coordinated by Mohammed Mubeen and Sucharita, showcased the State’s diversity through dance, music, and theatre.

The audience was captivated by the tribal Mathura dance from Adilabad, Hyderabadi Marfa and Qawwali, and the colourful Bonalu festival performances. The festive evening drew large participation from the Telugu diaspora, including those from Andhra Pradesh, who enjoyed a lively display of Telangana humour, culture, and cuisine.

The Mathura dance, performed by Rithika, Mourya, Samiksha, and Rashmita in traditional Lambadi attire, was directed by Sucharita and choreographed by Shwetha, Bharati, and Priyanka. The Lambadi tribe, known for its rich folk art and vibrant traditions, originates from Telangana’s forest regions and traces its ancestry to grain carriers for the Mughal army.

Students of Yara International School presented a re-enactment of a Hyderabadi wedding featuring Sanchak, Dholak Geet, Nikha, and Valima. The performance, directed by Shaheen Afroze, Kauser Tahseen Azeem, and Arshiya Tabassum, evoked nostalgia among the audience. Teacher Mohammed Nadeem played the role of the Khazi who solemnised the marriage, while candid exchanges between the bride and groom drew laughter and applause.

Engineer and percussionist Shoeb Mohiuddin led the Marfa team. Known for training young Hyderabadis, he delivered an energetic performance. Marfa, or Dhaf band, was introduced to Hyderabad by the Siddis, people of African descent who served in the Nizam’s army, and remains an essential feature of Hyderabadi weddings.

The Dholak ke Geet segment, a fading tradition once integral to Muslim weddings in Telangana, received huge applause for blending folk and fusion music.

The evening concluded with a vibrant Bonalu performance, where Shiva Reddy, painted in bright colours and wielding a whip, portrayed Potharaju. Shwetha, Priyanka, and others played Ammavarlu, recreating the grand festival dedicated to Goddess Mahakali in Hyderabad.