To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda, the Janjati Bhagidari Utsav is being held at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow. Organized under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the festival has created a vibrant platform for tribal communities from across the country to present their art, culture, crafts, and cuisine. Arunachal Pradesh is participating as the partner state this year, further strengthening cultural exchange efforts.
One of the major highlights of the festival is an exhibition of masks representing various tribes from India and countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Fiji. Tribal artists are also being honored for their contributions. Tribal communities from Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Gonda, Jhansi, Lalitpur, and several other states are taking part in this celebration of tribal heritage. Atul Dwivedi, Director of the Institute of Folk and Tribal Culture, stated that the festival aims to introduce the rich cultural identity of tribal communities to the wider public and encourage their integration into the mainstream.
As part of the cultural exchange initiative, a team from Uttar Pradesh will also participate in an event scheduled in Arunachal Pradesh from November 15. This year, the Dhurva tribe of Odisha is participating for the first time. The festival, running from November 13 to 18, features stalls showcasing traditional crafts, textiles, artwork, and cuisine. Daily cultural performances from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM include Bardoishikhala (Odisha), Yak Dance (Arunachal Pradesh), Maganihar Gayan (Uttar Pradesh), Mandri (Uttarakhand), and Newasi, Kalbelia, and Sapera dances (Rajasthan). On November 17, a play titled “Dharti Aaba”, based on the life of Birsa Munda, will be staged.
The event also highlights tribal art forms such as rangoli, clay art, and indigenous literature. The festival is being organized with the support of the Tribal Development Department, Uttar Pradesh Institute of Folk and Tribal Culture, Department of Culture and Tourism, TRI UP, NCZCC, NTPC, State Bank of India, and Canara Bank.
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