LUCKNOW, Sept. 1 -- A cultural evening, 'Naman', resonating with the tinkling of ghungroos and rhythmic beats of the tabla, was held at Sant Gadgeji Maharaj Auditorium of the UP Sangeet Natak Akademi on Monday. The two-day Kathak festival, 'Naman: Parampara Kathak Ki', celebrated the spirit of Nari Shakti, with female performers showcasing artistic expression, empowerment and dedication on stage. Amrit Abhijat, additional chief secretary, culture and tourism, was the chief guest at the programme. Choreographed by Neeta Joshi, 'Nayika Prasang' brought alive the subtle nuances of love, longing, pride, and anticipation. Under the direction of Shruti Sharma, dancers presented Mirabai's timeless bhajan 'Payo Ji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo', captivating the audience with intricate footwork, graceful spins and expressive storytelling. Meanwhile, 'Krishna Naman', choreographed by Rajni Verma, drew applause as students performed intricate kavitts, tukdas, and parans. The presentation was accompanied by Kamalkant's vocals, Rajiv Shukla and Shahnawaz Khan on tabla, Archana on sarangi, Diganta Saikia on flute and Naveen Mishra on sitar. Lucknow's Devika Devendra S Mangalamukhi performed 'Damru Har Kar Baje'. Pune's Abha Auti captivated the audience with a rare seven-and-a-half beat composition 'Neel', followed by 'Dekho Hori Ke Khilaiya', bringing the festive joy of Braj's Holi alive. Senior dancer Urmila Sharma of Prayagraj impressed with an emotive rendition of Maharaj Bindadin's popular thumri 'Dagar Chalat Dekho Shyam', while Ahmedabad's Maulik Shah made a mark with his brisk Teen Taal footwork and soulful thumri....