Students of Patna Women’s College perform at the Jashne Azadi Dance Competition on Thursday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Aug. 11: Patriotic fervour was the inspiration for dancers at Jashne Azadi Dance Competition, hosted by Patna Women’s College on the institute premises today.

Six groups, each comprising 12 members, took to the stage to perform in the competition, organised to celebrate Independence Day. All the dancers were clad in the three colours of the National Flag, and matched steps to the rhythm of patriotic numbers. While one group conveyed the message of unity in diversity, another spoke out against corruption through their skit.

Annu and group, the first performers of the day, paid homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for our country, with A.R. Rehman’s Maa tujhe salaam. Retika and group followed them. The second group performed to the popular Desh mere, desh mere from the 2002-Ajay Devgn starrer The Legend of Bhagat Singh. Another group, consisting of Garima and her friends, performed to a self-composed song.

Each performance was greeted by loud applause from the audience that consisted of teachers and students of the college.

Sister Doris D’Souza, the principal of Patna Women’s College, congratulated the participants. “The competition had so much life. We could feel the energy of the performers. It was full of patriotic feeling and represented the unity in diversity of our country.”

Then, she announced the winners of the competition. While Retika and her group were declared winners, Nimmi and group were runners up and Akanksha and group were third.