Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Cultural extravaganza on Silver Beach

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

SHARING A POINT: Union Minister of State for Law K.Venkatapathy, Health Minister M.R.K.Panneerselvam and Cuddalore Collector Rajendra Ratnoo at the inauguration of ‘Neidhal-2008’ in Cuddalore on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE: The five-day summer festival —“Neidhal-2008”— got off to a colourful start on the sands of the Silver Beach here on Wednesday.

Health Minister M.R.K.Panneerselvam inaugurated the fete.

The 54-km long coastline of Cuddalore district was interspersed with enchanting tourist spots such as the Silver Beach and Pichavaram. He said the exhibition organised in this connection highlighted the achievements of the government.

A pavilion was fully devoted to segregation of garbage and how the domestic waste could be converted into useful manure. Mr. Panneerselvam tried his hand on a pistol put up for show at the police pavilion.

Union Minister of State for Law Venkatapathi in his speech likened the “Neidhal-2008” to the Indira Vizha of the yore, mentioned in the Tamil classic the “Silappathigaram,” that was celebrated with a lot of fanfare to patronise the indigenous art forms and also to invoke the rain god.

He wondered at the artistic skills of the Narikoravas in churning out various products from beads. The “Nari jewels” displayed in their stall had the export potential.

Mr. Venkatapathi said on the request of the District Collector he would sanction Rs 10 lakh from his MP Local Area Development Funds for the development of the boat jetty at the Silver Beach.

Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo said the “Neidhal-2008” had become a national festival in the sense that folk artists from Rajasthan, Manipur and Maharashtra, besides Tamil Nadu, were participating in it. He said as the annual Natyanjali festival at Chidambaram had acquired great fame for fostering the classical dance farms, the Neidhal summer festivities would be known for its focus on folk arts.

He underscored the point that Cuddalore was the first district to extend financial assistance to the tune of Rs 3 lakh from the TAHDCO funds to the Scheduled Caste artists.

Mr. Ratnoo further stated that Cuddalore MLA G.Aiyappan had promised to sanction Rs 10 lakh for construction of a stage with better lighting and acoustic features. Saba.Rajendran and Thirunavakkuarasu, MLAs, T.Thangarasu, Municipal Chairman, Thamarai Selvan, Vice-Chairman, and others participated.

The karagam and poikkal kudhirai artists and those from Rajasthan and Manipur entertained the audience with their performance. Fireworks display lighted up the sky and provided a feast to the eyes.

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