Indian president's daughter set to perform Indian traditional dance in Turkey
Sharmistha Mukherjee, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter is currently paying a visit in Turkey for a performance of India's traditional Kathak dance which she choreographs and dances as well.
The event is scheduled for Saturday and it is organized by the India Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
"I have been dancing since I was a child, and dancing became a profession and a passion for me," she told the Anadolu Agency during a dinner hosted in her honor by Indian Ambassadress in Ankara Susmita Gongulee Thomas on Friday.
Mukherjee said that their first performance in Turkey was in Istanbul on Thursday which followed a European tour of Hungary, Poland, Germany and Serbia.
"I travelled alone in Turkey for a couple of times and Turkish people's warmness and hospitality are similar to Indians. This should contribute to the development of bilateral relations between our countries," she said.
The Kathak dance is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances. Its moves are influenced from the Persian and Central Asian dances since the 16th century. The word Kathak comes from storytellers who recited or sang stories from epics and mythology with some elements of dance.
Mukherjee also said that she saw India as a global power even though they were a young country but with a powerful IT industry, adding, "hopefully in the next decade, India will become a major admin power. Our greatest strength is that we have a large young population and they are enthusiastic and hard working."
Pranab Mukherjee who was the former Minister of Finance was elected as the President of India in July 2012, replaced Pratibha Patil who was the first female president of India.
Reporting by Inci Gundag
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