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National Tribal Dance Festival: Affirming universality of tribal culture

Tribal-Dance

Tribal dance groups from around the world have started arriving Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, for the National Tribal Dance Festival, beginning from October 28. The preparation for this unique cultural festival has been completed at the Science College Ground in Raipur. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel who conceived the idea of organising this festival, says that the objective behind this festival is the unity of the world tribal community. Though people speak different languages and have different cultures, the festival affirms the universality of the world's tribal culture. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is one family - is what this tribal unity and the rich aroma of different tribal cultures will establish.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be the chief guest for the grand inaugural ceremony, which will be presided over by CM Baghel. K.C. Venugopal, P.L. Punia, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Dr. Charandas Mahant Speaker of Chhattisgarh assembly, and others will also grace the function. On the second day of the programme, Punjab Chief Minister S. Charanjeet Singh Channi will be the chief guest. The three-day-long festival will see performances by tribal dancers from seven foreign countries, and 27 states and six union territories of the country. Around 1,000 artistes, including 63 foreign artistes, will perform.

Artistes from Uganda, Uttar Pradesh, Palestine, Sikkim, and Chhattisgarh will perform in the inaugural programme of the National Tribal Dance Festival. The dance troupe from every state and union territory will perform on two themes-“Vivah Sanskar” and the traditional dance of states.

Artistes from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Uzbekistan, Swaziland, Uganda, Nigeria, and Palestine, too, will perform in the National Tribal Dance Festival. Twenty dance troupes will perform daily. Around 3,500 officials have been given the responsibility of organising the event.

This will also be an occasion for the people to get to know about the costumes, jewellery, crafts, designs, and food of the tribals. Besides various tribal dances, it will also provide an opportunity to the tribal communities to share their experiences in various fields, including arts, music, film, health, tourism and food. Through this platform, they will also be able to share their thoughts about the developments in their community and plans. The works of tribal will be showcased and people will be able to get detailed information about their arts and crafts. Costumes, jewellery, designs inspired by tribal culture and handicrafts will be on display. This national festival will also be an occasion for the people to get familiar with the local and tribal food and drink of Chhattisgarh.

A senior official of the state government informed THE WEEK that the National Tribal Dance Festival will enhance mutual cooperation between tribal communities and organisations, and explore the possibilities of promoting rural development, environment, and tourism. Tribal artistes from 25 states and 6 countries participated in the National Tribal Dance Festival in 2019. But COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions prevented the festival from being conducted since then.

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