Sharing: Inauguration of CWG 2010

Picture captured from my TV screen

The Common Wealth Games 2010 were kickstarted on October 3, 2010 in a gala celebration. I got to see the event on TV same as most of us. The event was superbly organised and did our country proud.

Prince Charles was the Chief Guest at the function and was in attendance with his wife Camilla. There was a splendid performance by Sri Hariharan and this was followed by a number of traditional dances. There were group performances of Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Mohiniattam, Manipuri and Kuchipudi. It was nice to see the national integration in that the performances were alternately from the North and the South of India. They were exquisitely colourful too, especially the Kuchipudi performers from Andhra Pradesh who wore a vibrant pink. The choreography and getting so many people together on one platform must have been a mammoth effort. Kudos to the organisers!

A couple of speeches and oath-taking later, there was a Bhangra performance, an Eastern tribal dance followed by Karagattam and Kavadi from Tamil Nadu. There was also a song and dance from Kerala but I am not able to place the name. It was beautiful.

There was a Yoga programme introducing the 5000-year-old tradition of Pathanjali Yoga to the foreign guests and sportspersons. Excellently put together!

There was an array of floats themed ‘The Great Indian Journey’ with displays of small business manufacturers, bangle sellers, cycle manufacturers, cane juice makers, politicians and more. It could have been better and classier.

The fireworks came next and were a lovely sight to behold. The highlight of the show was music and singing by AR Rahman – a lovely jewel in the crown of the Inauguration Ceremony.