Shillong- January 15: The plethora of Indian cultural extravaganza is all set to flaunt the Himalayan capital of Kathmandu in Nepal. The cultural exposition dubbed ‘Days of Indian Culture in Nepal: Namaste Nepal’ emphasised on the diverse cultures of North Eastern region of India.
The 14 day gala festival is being organised from 14th to 27th January, 2017 under the aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Kathmandu and North Eastern Council (NEC). The festival was inaugurated by Mr 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, while the helicopter travelled by the Chief Guest Mr Jiwan Bahadur Shahi, Union Minister of Culture, Transport and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal was stranded at Pokhara due to bad weather;however, he subsequently graced the art exhibition done by the twelve artists from the region.
While taking a glimpse at the paintings, the Union Minister Mr Jiwan Bahadur Shahi remarked ‘Some of the images have great similarities with cultural practices of certain people in the different region of Nepal’. The artworks comprised of a wide range of folk and contemporary arts from the North Eastern states of India. Earlier, in his inaugural address, the Indian envoy, Mr Ranjit Rae expressed delight at the diversity of India and the Northeast in particular and was eager to showcase the vibrant culture to the people of Nepal.
He asserted ‘This is the first time that we are doing a festival of Northeast India in Nepal with series of events and performances for two weeks’; Mr Rae further added ‘We are not limiting to Kathmandu and Pokhara, we are extending the festival to many cities and districts across Nepal’.
The art exhibition at the national capital of Kathmandu will wind up on 18th January, 2017 and accordingly followed by the cultural performances for the rest of the days at Kathmandu and other towns of Nepal including Patan, Pokhara, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Dharan, Janakpur, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha. For the first time, Khasi folk music will be showcased at Nepal, which will be presented by the Arts and Culture Department, Government of Meghalaya.
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.
The Regional Officer, ICCR Shillong centre, Mr N Munish Singh stated ‘It will be a momentous occasion for the artistes of North East India to have been given the opportunity to perform at the international arena’. Further, 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’.
Moreover, Singh had also introduced other sphere of creative expression that he felt suitable to partake in the festival. He entrusted Riti Academy of Visual Arts from Shillong to arrange the display a wide range of paintings depicting the cultures of North East India. The Head of Riti Academy, Mr Raphael Warjri expressed his gratitude to ICCR for the opportunity and committed to present distinctive artworks, depicting the Khasi folk myths and legends along with certain specific element of each State of North East India were contributed by other artists from the region. Although, culture is the main topic of exposition in the festival, Warjri argued ‘The present situation that is commonly prevailing in the North Eastern region of India and Nepal is the earthquake, and folk knowledge has a metaphor of solace and contentment depicting through the artwork’.
The North Eastern Council has also partnered with ICCR for the festival at Nepal. The NEC Director Information and Public Relations, Mr M R Mahapatra stated ‘The Hills of North East India is connecting the dots with the mountains of Nepal in the cultural extravaganza, and the NEC will always support such endeavour in future’. The Art exhibition entitled ‘North East India: Mosaic of Arts and Cultures’ is being hosted by the Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Kathmandu and art curator, Raphael Warjri of Riti Academy of Visual Arts who is already at Kathmandu, Nepal presented his book ‘Blatant: Pen Ryngkew’ to all the dignitaries, which was released recently in India.
