Cultural India

Foremost among the performing arts are India’s classical dances. In a spectacular solo or group display of swirling colour, gold ornaments and fluid movements, every dance form can be appreciated entirely for its visual appeal. However underlying the graceful performances are rigid rules which change for every form.

Bharatnatyam Odissi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Mohiniattam-these as well as the several forms of classical dances that have their origins in various states across the country- are a form of religious worship. Every dance form has a precise vocabulary of emotions-love, yearning, sorrow, etc.-and these are displayed by gestures that involve the body, arms fingers, face and eyes. Thus, every movement that a dancer makes in the course of an hour long recital has a specific meaning. Obviously, it takes years to master the entire vocabulary while simultaneously instilling grace into the movements.

Dance recitals are usually, though not always, solo performances. While metropolitan cities have a succession of recitals at public auditoria, it is possible to attend a lecture-demonstration which imbues every gesture with significance for the uninitiated.

Most major hotels offer live programmes of music or dance in their Indian restaurants. The most often encountered form of music is the ghazal sung in chaste Urdu to the accompaniment of a harmonium.

Classical music in India has no comparison with the western orchestra. Traditionally one soloist plays the main theme, be it on the sitar, sarod or flute-like shehnai accompanied by three or four other instrumentalists. Vocal performances too, are always soloists with accompaniments providing the background music.

Western beat music is extremely popular in India. Every major hotel has a restaurant with a live band and a dance floor. These range from informal coffee shops to sophisticated night clubs. Discotheques are a feature in most major hotels. Recorded, rather than live music and exclusive, ritzy settings make them perfect for an evening’s entertainment.

For physical fitness, some hotels have squash and tennis courts, and every major hotel has a swimming pool and a health club open only to guests. Health clubs offer such facilities as sauna, steam and Jacuzzi baths, and the use of the gymnasium.

Herbal cosmetic products, tonics and oils are widely used in India and a massage with herbal oil after a hectic day of activity is marvelously relaxing.

Yoga, which is India’s ancient system of aerobics, has soothing and beneficial properties on the mind as well as the body. To master all the intricacies of this system requires years of specialized training, but a ‘crash course’ is offered as part of the services of many health clubs.

In these, certain simple exercises are taught, which when carried out regularly, tone up the system, correct posture and cure minor ailments.

Beauty parlours, at all major hotels once catered exclusively to women, now have men’s section too offering hair cuts and shaves. Today, there is a comprehensive range of skin and hair treatments for both men and women hair massages with herbal oil, herbal face packs, manicures and pedicures in fact everything that would be available in London or New York as beauticians are usually trained there.

Health club in Hotels feature the latest facilities, allowing you to tone up in sauna and steam rooms, Jacuzzis, chill-pools, and modern multi-station gyms.