The North-east is an enchanting land, rich in art and culture. And to highlight its rich heritage, the Indigenous People Welfare Organisation, in active collaboration with Delhi Tourism and a number of central ministries, is organising a mega event “Carnival of North East India 2012”. The mega festival, opening today at the Dilli Haat, Pitampura, will go on till Feb. 28.
The event is being organised with the primary objective of providing a platform for promoting the ethnic arts and rich cultural heritage of the north-eastern region of India – a region famous for its ethnic arts and crafts, handloom, cane and bamboo products. Through this carnival, the north-eastern region intends to converge on a common platform sharing a vision of revealing its hidden treasures by showcasing its ethnic arts, innovative crafts and rich cultural heritage to the rest of the world.
Besides other events, the carnival will feature a two-day musical entertainment show which will witness performances from popular bands like Rishi Inc, Hundred Octane, Recycle and The Dirty Strikes (both from Imphal) and Fubar Ghetto. Popular folk artiste from Mizoram, Mami Varte, will also grace the occasion. There will also be a fashion parade with models dressed in ethnic and traditional attire. Mouth-watering cuisines of the participating States will be a highlight of the carnival. Crafts, artefacts, exquisite silks, hand-woven fabrics, intricate designs with tribal motifs, hand-crafted mementos and jewelleries of all kinds, shapes and sizes, a spectacular range of bamboo work, etc., by creative artistes of the region will be duly represented by the participants.
First time
Speaking about the carnival, Sandeep Salam, Head Coordinator, Indigenous People Welfare Organisation said, “For the first time any such carnival is happening with the collaboration of Delhi Tourism. All the states will be presenting their cultural shows. Traditional dances like Bihu, Manipuri, Hajgiri from Tripura and Nongkrem from Meghalaya are also being featured in the carnival.”
“We are trying to bring the craftsmen from the North-east to the metro city to interact with people and sell their products directly to the buyers, this is the main aim behind the carnival. In the fashion show all the traditional garments will be displayed by the models. People will get to know more about the traditional outfits of the North-east. People from there don't get much exposure. This is the best platform for them to showcase their talent. North-east is a place where you can find all ethnic arts and crafts, handloom and bamboo products. In the day time people can enjoy food and go through the displayed products and in the evening enjoy the cultural show. There will be about 60 stalls for crafts,” added Salam. If the response is good then the carnival, according to Salam, will be held every year and may go to other metro cities as well.