Jamshedpur wore its cosmopolitan colours on its sleeve on Monday, Day Three of the five-day Jamshedpur Carnival, organised by Tata Steel in association with its subsidiaries and other city organisations.

Colours of India, a dance-cum-fashion show, at Gopal Maidan, Bistupur, on Monday evening for a crowd of 2,000 people, brought alive the diversity and richness of festivals and weddings. Patriotism was the unifying thread.

The programme kicked off by showcasing major festivities of Tusu or Sankranti, Pongal and Holi. It depicted Durga Puja with dances from Bollywood numbers such as Dola re dola from Devdas. Punjabis danced to hit Punjabi numbers to showcase the robust celebrations of Baisakhi. Rangabati by Sona Mahapatra, one of the most popular Odia songs, depicted Nuakhai, which worships foodgrain, from Odisha. The other festivals showcased were Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtami, Gangaur and Christmas.

The fashion show was based on weddings across states and communities. A maulvi read the nikaah for a Muslim couple, a Christian couple exchanged rings, a Bengali couple showcased shubho drishti and mala badal rituals while a Tamil couple performed the akshata arpana. All were dressed in their traditional attire.

Patriotic numbers in between the performances were a call for unity.

"Colours of India is a concept to showcase the richness of India. Our festivals, weddings and patriotism are a part of our heritage. Every Indian feels for these three themes so we've brought them together in one show," said Sukanya Das, co-ordinator and anchor for Colours of India, along with RJ Prasun Upadhyay.

Monday's presentations were put up by various social organisations such as Punjabi Association, Marwari Yuva Manch, The Milanee, Biswajeet Manimela, Andhra Association, UP Sangh, Ramkrishna Mission, Utkal Association and Path (a theatre group).

Colours of India ended Salaam India where organisers felicitated five army personnel - Major Karan Daya, Havildar Deshmukh Nilesh Laxman, Naik Dinesh, Lance Naik S.S. Ghosh, Gunners Munna Singh and Mukesh Mahar - of the Sonari-based army camp.

G.M. Sharan, Tata Steel urban services head, and other Jusco officials were present at the programme.

"Colours of India is indeed a colourful event. Performances were vibrant. People in Jamshedpur love the concept of a carnival because apart from movies and Jubilee Park, leisure opportunities are few and far between," said Jyotsna Agiwal, a Jugsalai-based entrepreneur who enjoyed the Monday show with her family.