CWG closing ceremony reveals India at its dynamic best

NEW DELHI - Martial arts, schoolchildren dancing to the tune of Indian National Song-Vande Matram, popular Bollywood hits and a laser show took centre stage, as the curtains came down on the 19th Commonwealth Games here with a spectacular closing ceremony on Thursday night at the 65,000-capacity Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

At today’s closing ceremony, the mirrors on the showpiece aerostat made way for a gigantic chandelier in keeping with the spirit of Diwali, as popular Sufi singer Kailash Kher performed Allah Ke Bande, the 2002 track that earned him fame all around.

Kailash Kher’s ..Ho Gayi Main Teri Diwani……touched the spirit of people all around.

Noted drummer Shiva Mani doubled up the joy with his drum beats on this occasion.

While noted singer Shankar Mahadevan sang the Dil Chahta Hai anthem ‘Koi Kahe…Kehta rahe’, singer Sukhwinder Singh of Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya fame enthralled the 65,000-seater Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with recent hits Ibn Batuta and Chak De India.

For those unfamiliar with Bollywood chartpoppers, there was boyband Blue’s 2002 hit One Love and British band Queen’s We will Rock You, the spirited rock anthem sung by Farrokh Balsara (better known as Freddie Mercury).

During the 30-minute segment ‘Music of Universal Love’ popular songs from four genres-Folk, Sufi, Indi-pop and world music-featured in the closing ceremony.

Rajasthani folk singer Ila Arun also performed in this musical segment of the show, during which 1,000 dancers performed to Shiamak Davar’s choreography.

Noted vocalist Shubha Mudgal performed ‘Ab Ke Sawan’ and ‘Dholna’.

She also sang her popular song…..Resham ka…..as Shubha Mudgal followed her with …Ayo re maro dholna…song.

The end of the final segment saw Shankar Ehsaan Loy performing an original composition written by lyricist Prasoon Joshi. He also happens to be a creative adviser to the Organising Committee of the Games.

Meanwhile, the sparkle and shimmer of fireworks at the end of the closing ceremony won everyone’s heart at the stadium. The crackers lit up the sky as if announcing a joyful onclusion of the sporting extravaganza in Delhi, making it an unforgettable memory to remember for years to come.

“The opening ceremony was supposed to showcase India’s culture, which many people overseas seem to think is represented by Bollywood. We had to correct that,” Joshi had told a daily recently ahead of the closing ceremony.

“The closing ceremony is a celebration. It’s meant to be fun,” said Bharat Bala, the creative director of the acclaimed opening ceremony and the smaller finale to a daily recently.

As the 71-nation multi-sport event drew to a close, the organisers must have hoped that the closing ceremony dazzles as much as the opening ceremony. And, it actually did. (ANI)