Rajasthani Folk Dance and Live Music Bring 'Rhythms of Rajasthan' to Nicosia and Limassol

Poster: High Commission of India in Cyprus (@indiacyprus)

For two summer evenings, Cyprus got a taste of the Thar desert. The High Commission of India presented 'Rhythms of Rajasthan', a show of folk dance and live music by Rakhi Sapera and a 10-member troupe from Jaipur, empanelled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The first performance took place at the Pallas Theatre in Nicosia on Tuesday 18 August, with a second show at the Lanitio Theatre in Limassol the following evening. Entry to both was free, and families were encouraged to bring friends along.

A taste of Rajasthan's folk traditions

Rajasthan has one of India's richest folk cultures, shaped by desert life, royal courts and travelling communities. Among its best-known forms:

• Kalbeliya: a fast, whirling dance in flowing black skirts, recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage.
• Ghoomar: a graceful circle dance in which women spin in wide, colourful ghagras.
• Live folk music: driven by instruments like the dholak drum and the khartal, wooden clappers played with the fingers.

Shows like this usually come to Cyprus through the ICCR, which sends Indian artists abroad to share the country's culture.

What this means for you

Events like this are a chance to show Cypriot friends and colleagues a side of India beyond Bollywood, and for children growing up here to see their heritage on a real stage. Many of these cultural evenings are free, so the main thing is not to miss them:

• Follow the High Commission of India on Instagram, where shows are usually announced one or two weeks ahead.
• Check our Events page, where we list upcoming Indian cultural events in Cyprus.

Read also: Hindi Finds Its Voice in Nicosia on Hindi Diwas 2026

Source: High Commission of India in Cyprus (@indiacyprus) on Instagram