Cultural fest

Govt to organise social harmony festival to promote minority community artists

Rashtriya-Mahotsav

After celebrating various aspects of Indian culture through Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, the NDA government is gearing up to hold a separate festival involving mainly minority community artists and their art forms.

Termed as 'social harmony festival', the event would be anchored by the Union Minority Affairs Ministry. The festival, which would be held across various metros early next year, would have various popular performing art forms, including a few that are on the verge of being extinct. Qawali sessions, Baul singing and Punjabi folklore recitation would be among the many art forms that would be part of the mega festival.

As the government is looking at holding the festival in the January-February period, it is likely to present itself as sympathetic to the cause of minority communities ahead of the elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

The plan for the festival was being worked out, sources said.

Besides recognising the art forms practiced by the minority communities, the Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi-led Minority Affairs Ministry is holding a two-week long hunar haat during the International Trade Fair in Delhi, starting from November 14.

Naqvi said hunar haat would provide a platform to artisans belonging to minority communities from across the nation to showcase their arts and skills before the domestic and international visitors.

The event would be an exhibition of handicrafts, embroidery , artifacts made from cane and bamboo in northeastern states; cloth and embroidery works, brass artifacts, Jardoji cloth work of Uttar Pradesh; collection of pottery work of southern states; sandalwood and other wooden artifacts made by artisans belonging to the minority communities.

The ministry is providing free stalls to artisans and craftsmen and would make arrangements for their transportation besides taking care of their daily expenses.

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