Festival of NE Indian Culture in Kathmandu begins
SHILLONG: For the first time, Khasi folk music will be showcased in Nepal, which will be presented by the Art and Culture Department of the State Government, at the cultural extravaganza ‘Days of Indian Culture in Nepal: Namaste Nepal’ that began on January 14 and will conclude on January 27.
In addition to the folk performance, there will be modern music rendition by renowned Shillong rock star Lou Majaw and the famed Shillong Chambers Choir.
Apart from the entertainment programme, the Shillong office of ICCR has been instrumental in the promotion of local artistes and exposure of ethnic North East Indian cultures to the rest of the world.
Besides ICCR, the festival is supported by the Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India in Kathmandu and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
The festival was inaugurated by Ranjit Rae, Ambassador of India to Nepal with the art exhibition presented by Riti Academy of Visual Arts in the presence of other dignitaries from India and Nepal. Chief guest Jiwan Bahadur Shahi, the Nepal Minister of Culture and Transport and Civil Aviation, could not attend the programme as his helicopter was stranded at Pokhran due to inclement weather.
Later, the Minister graced the art exhibition of twelve artists from the region.
While taking a glimpse at the paintings, Shahi remarked that some of the images have great similarities with cultural practices of certain people in the different regions of Nepal. The artworks comprised a wide range of folk and contemporary arts from the northeastern states of India. Earlier, in his inaugural address, Rae highlighted the diversity of India, the Northeast in particular, and was eager to showcase the vibrant culture to the people of Nepal.
Rae said this is the first time that Nepal is facilitating a festival of Northeast India with a series of events and performances for two weeks. He added that they would not limit the festival to Kathmandu and Pokhara and it is being extended to many cities and districts across Nepal.
The art exhibition at the national capital of Kathmandu will conclude on January 18. There will be cultural performances for the rest of the days in Kathmandu and other towns of Nepal, including Patan, Pokhara, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Dharan, Janakpur, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha.
N Munish Singh, ICCR Regional Officer in Shillong, said, “It will be a momentous occasion for the artistes of the North East to have been given the opportunity to perform in the international arena.”
Singh said he was delighted to have been able to present Khasi music outside the country. “It has been my desire to showcase Khasi folk music at the international fora, particularly with my ardent devotion to certain Khasi folk melody,” he added.
The ICCR regional officer entrusted Riti Academy of Visual Arts from Shillong to
arrange the exhibition depicting the culture of the North East. The head of Riti Academy, Raphael Warjri, expressed his gratitude to ICCR for the opportunity to present distinctive artworks, depicting the Khasi myths and legends along with certain specific elements of each state of the North East contributed by other artists from the region.
Although, culture is the main topic of exposition in the festival, Warjri said the present situation that is commonly prevailing in the North East and Nepal is the earthquake, and folk knowledge has a metaphor of solace and contentment depicting through the artwork.
NEC has also partnered with ICCR for the festival. Its director of information and public relations M.R Mahapatra said, “The Hills of North East India is connecting the dots with the mountains of Nepal in the cultural extravaganza and NEC will always support such endeavour in the future.”
The Art exhibition entitled ‘North East India: Mosaic of Arts and Cultures’ is being hosted by ICCR, Embassy of India in Kathmandu and art curator Raphael Warjri of Riti Academy of Visual Arts who is already in Kathmandu. Warjri will also present his book ‘Blatant: Pen Ryngkew’ to all the dignitaries, which was released recently in India.