Colourful Rajasthani dancers and aerial ballet artistes from the UK and Belgium raised the tempo at St Stephen’s College on Friday. The aim: to raise awareness and interest among Delhi University students about the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The half-an-hour programme began with the traditional ‘Kachchi ghodi’ dance of Rajasthan by artistes from Delhi’s Shadipur area and led up to a contemporary ballet performance by the Theatre Tol.

Jitendra Singh Naruka, secretary Sports and Physical Education, DU, said: “The ‘Queen’s Baton’ will arrive in India on Sunday (March 8) and the artistes will perform at a function organised at India Gate that day.”

Today’s programme at St Stephen’s was organised as a prelude to attract the university students to Sunday’s function. Students gathered as the sounds of the dhol reverberated through the college.

“Organisers wanted the youth to come in large numbers and hence wanted a programme in the university,” said Pradnya Pradhan, from the event management company Samsara.

The Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games will be received in India at a cultural programme organised at India Gate at 6 pm on Sunday .