Dancing in Durgapur

Yesterday visitors from overseas churches, including me, took part in the 40th anniversay celebrations of Durgapur Diocese. They started with performances of traditional dances from across India by children from some of the projects the diocese runs. These children are from disadvantaged backgrounds and would otherwise have no access to a good education and little hope of escaping a future of poverty. They are the children of leprosy suffers, or low caste rickshaw pullers and maids, and often suffer discrimination. They are taught dance as well as literacy, numeracy and languages.

The dancing was really fantastic, and it was moving to see how poised and self-confident the children seemed, as well as graceful and beautiful. This self-confidence means that the teenage girls will be less vulnerable to trafficking.

The day finished off with a garden party, great food and county and western music for a change...

Today we watched another ceremony, this time of the annual Tribal Awards that the diocese runs. Awards were given to tribal people involved in writing, education and social work. Again there were dances and music.

The social work award was given to Mr. Bhim Sen Hembrom (pictured at the microphone). He tours tribal areas performing dramatic puppet shows in the Santali language that raise awareness and counter some of the serious problems arising from long-held superstitions. In some cases women have been publicly murdered in remote villages, as they are believed to be possessed by evil spirits.

Dave Webster

See the full gallery on Posterous