Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Lucknow will host a national confluence of tribal art, culture, folk traditions and traditional skills from November 23 to 26. The ‘Rashtriya Janjatiya Bhagidari Utsav’ will be organised by the Uttar Pradesh Lok Evam Janjati Sanskriti Sansthan (Department of Culture) to mark the birth anniversary of Loknayak Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The four-day event, to be held at UP Darshan Park in Gomti Nagar, will bring together more than 500 artists from 16 states, who will showcase the diversity of tribal life and culture through their performances.
Culture and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “The Utsav would be organised jointly by the Uttar Pradesh Lok Evam Janjati Sanskriti Sansthan, the Department of Social Welfare, the Tribal Development Department and the Directorate of Tourism. Artists from the host state of Uttar Pradesh, along with Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, will showcase their artistic traditions. Cultural troupes from these states will bring their respective tribal heritage to the stage through folk dances, music and traditional performances. Efforts will also be made through the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Prayagraj, to invite artists from other states.”
Alongside tribal artists, the Utsav will give special prominence to the traditional art forms of nomadic communities. Performances featuring the been (traditional wind instrument), magic, puppetry, Bahurupiya and Nat-Nati folk artistes will be among the highlights. Rangoli presentations and plays based on the life and contributions of Loknayak Bhagwan Birsa Munda will also be organised.
Dying folk art forms will be a major attraction of the Utsav, enabling the younger generation to become familiar with these traditional art forms. The event will also provide a platform to artists and communities who have long been working to preserve and promote these folk traditions.
A craft fair will also be organised as part of the Utsav, where more than 150 artisans will showcase their skills and products. Stalls featuring tribal cuisine, handicrafts, traditional jewellery and tribal musical instruments will be set up at the venue. Exhibitions and workshops on tribal paintings and handicrafts will also be organised. Demonstrations will showcase the making of utility and decorative items from munj grass and wheat stalks.
A rural setting will be recreated at the venue to offer visitors a closer understanding of tribal life and traditions. Arrangements will also be made for the sale of books on tribal culture and traditions.
Madhya Pradesh has been designated as the theme state for this edition of the Rashtriya Janjatiya Bhagidari Utsav. Its tribal art, folk traditions and cultural heritage will receive special focus. Foreign artists will also participate in the event, providing visitors an opportunity to witness cultural performances from different countries. The participation of foreign cultural groups alongside artists from various Indian states will further promote cultural exchange at the Utsav.
Culture and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “Local schools, colleges and universities would also be involved in the Utsav to expand its reach and connect young people with tribal culture. Students will get an opportunity to learn about folk arts, tribal crafts, traditional cuisine and cultural performances.”
Seminars, painting exhibitions and handicraft workshops will provide a platform for discussions on the history, traditions and skills of tribal communities. The four-day Utsav is being planned as a comprehensive showcase of different aspects of tribal life, bringing together cultural performances, crafts and traditional cuisine on a single platform.
Yogi govt to showcase tribal art and crafts on a national platform, over 150 artisans to display their skills
More than 500 artists from 16 states to showcase India’s cultural diversity
Traditional art forms of nomadic communities to get a platform at Rashtriya Janjatiya Bhagidari Utsav; Bahurupiya, Nat-Nati and puppetry to be major attractions
Artists from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha and Assam, among others, to converge in Lucknow
Students to get a glimpse of tribal culture; festival to feature seminars, painting exhibitions and handicraft workshops
Utsav to serve as a platform for taking tribal art and traditional knowledge to the younger generation: Jaiveer Singh
