LUCKNOW, Feb. 1 -- Women dhakis from Bengal have beaten mockery and discouragement hollow, striking positive notes on their journey of empowerment, creative satisfaction and personal fulfilment to emerge as beacons of change in a male preserve. A major attraction at the ongoing Sanatkada Festival in Lucknow, the all-women dhaki troupe has carved out an identity for itself, gained financial independence and turned the tables on past critics who now applaud and admire their skills as they perform under the renowned percussionist and Padma Shri awardee Gokul Chandra Das. "Earlier people criticised us, mocked us and even looked down upon us. Today, the same people come and tell us they saw us on TV or read about us in newspapers and that they are extremely proud of us," said 20-year-old Rumpa Sarkar, a woman dhaki. The troupe, comprising young women mostly in their early twenties and some as young as 18, has travelled from different parts of Bengal to add a distinct flavour to the five-day Sanatkada Festival, which has the theme 'Raabta: Lucknow-Calcutta Ka' this year as it celebrates cultural ties between the two cities. "This profession has not only given us a different identity and recognition but also a better income, something we may not have achieved in a typical 9-to-5 job," said 23-year-old Anita Das. Kolkata resident Barnali Biswas, 25, said she joined the troupe after discovering it on social media. Eighteen-year-old Paromita Mondal from Barasat, currently preparing for her higher secondary examinations, calls dhak her passion. Padma Shri awardee Gokul Chandra Das, 58, who leads the troupe, mentors around 150 dhakis, of whom nearly 90 are women. "I introduced women dhakis into my troupe in 2010, starting with just six women. Today, many of them have formed their own all-women dhaki groups," said Das....