Jamshedpur, Sept. 24: Artists from Rajasthan enthralled music-lovers in the city on the inaugural day of the three-day Jharkhand Lok Geet Nritya Mahotsav-2003.

The mahotsav was inaugurated by state building construction minister Raghuvar Das.

Das praised the efforts of the Recreation in Rural Areas, a non government organisation, for organising the event. He said such cultural activities should be held on a regular basis. Such shows helped bring people from different states and cultures closer to each other, he said.

Former Union minister Shaliendra Mahato said the state should also try to organise such events so that more artists get a chance to perform in front of large audiences. “The Jharkhand government should take special initiative to organise cultural shows where the tribal artists, who get very little opportunity to perform in public, get a chance to do so, he said.

Qawali Singer Naim Ajmeri from Ajmer in Rajasthan was the special attraction of the day. Although the rain tried to play spoilsport, music triumphed. The voice of the singers and lyrics of the Qawali were such that music lovers kept clamouring for more.

Secretary of the organising committee Binod Rana said the next two days would showcase skills of artists from other states. Pandvani singer Padamshree Tijan Bai will perform on September 25.