Traditional Punjabi dance event returns

An annual national traditional Punjabi dance competition for women is to be held for a third time.

Participants at the Giddha contest, at Mercure Telford Centre Hotel on Saturday, have between seven and 13 minutes for the performance.

One team is due to sing live, while others will use backing tracks.

Organisers have previously said they felt the Giddha tradition was being lost "so we wanted to bring that back".

Giddha is a traditional folk dance for women who originate from Punjab and is an energetic and colourful performance.

Teams from Rugby in Warwickshire, London, Kent and Bedford are due to be among those taking part in Telford from 12:00 BST.

Organiser Mokesh Mehmi said over time the annual event had "developed a lot" and previously many people "weren't aware of the Giddha competitions getting held".

Mr Mehmi stated there were five judges and outlined the timeframe of up to 13 minutes.

He added: "That's [getting] all your props on the stage, [getting] all your props off.

"You're determined from how you approach a stage, what outfit you're wearing... it's got to be related to the song [and] all the props you're using... [must be] used correctly."

One woman who has helped to arrange the event, Taro Kaur, said traditional props such as pots were involved.

She added: "What they wear in their hair, flowers, it's all judged by how they look, how they dance."

Rhythm Bharddwaj, who is part of a team from Wolverhampton, said: "We just want to connect our new generation with our culture.

"What is in my heart I can describe on the stage."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, external, X,, external and Instagram, external, Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, external