In the most vivid and vibrant kaleidoscopic representation of India’s plurality, Rashtriya Sanskriti
Mahotsav comes as an annual reminder of all the aspects of our cultural identity. You needn’t travel long distances to experience what India is all about. The beauty of this festival lies in bringing the most authentic art forms closer to you.
Every bit of the large grounds of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has been captured by the sights and sounds of tradition, echoing a latent desire to be expressed.
A short walk through the colour-soaked surroundings brings us to something we would otherwise not see easily in the city. It’s called kachi gori. Wooden horses tied to the waist, three men and women gather applause with their mock fights set to folk music. In villages this is performed during marriage functions but now much less. “People don’t have the patience anymore to sit through our stories. This could also be because today’s generation doesn’t know enough about our history and finds it difficult to connect with us,” says one of the kachi gori artistes, Gokul Jhala from Rajasthan.
The efforts by Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is to bring positive change in the lives of these people by giving them a platform to perform, something difficult to find otherwise. Here, it’s not only about the money they get, but also about keeping their art alive.
Handicrafts, painting, sculptures, exhibitions, tribal, classical and contemporary dance and music, and of course food—you’ll find it all here. Fringe-folk performers like behroopiyas and baazigars perform throughout the day. “They are also known as maidaani kalakars as they perform in the open,” says Gaurav Kumar Bansal, the festival director.
There are two photo exhibitions that run parallely at the venue. One is on vandalism of places of historical importance and the other on Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
In the evening the main stage lights up to performances of different kinds, bringing forth a new sensibility. On the ancillary stage, where students and cultural groups perform, you too can showcase your talent.
There is now a visible shift in the way the arts are viewed, says Bansal. “When Siddhi Goma tribe from Gujarat, who are African in origin, perform, it attracts youngsters more than Bollywood masala,” he says.
The festival holds enormous potential in bringing arts, artists and audiences together, and all that you’ve heard from us is still just the tip of the iceberg.
On till October 24, at IGNCA, 11, Mansingh Road, from 10 am to 10 pm.
Entry is free.