Music & drama fest in city from today

SHILLONG: A festival centered on music, dance and drama will be held from September 14-18 at U Soso Tham Auditorium.
The festival will feature the recipients of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2017 and is being organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Addressing reporters on Thursday, chairman of the Akedemi Shekhar Sen said that the Akademi has selected 34 (which include 2 joint awards) artists from across the country who have made their marks as young talent in their respective fields.
The Yuva Puraskar will be presented during a special ceremony presided over by Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy.
Sen has also urged artistes from the state to attend the festival to experience music, dance and drama from other parts of India.
“Seeing the artistes perform will give the local artists motivation,” he said adding that the local artistes in the state will also become aware of the activities of the Akademi.
Secretary of the Akademi Rita Swami Choudhary said: “Cultural mapping will be done at the programme also in which people can give the data about the local artists. The names will go to the national inventory.”