11-day Tribal Festival to kick off at Kalagram from Feb 2.

The organizers further added that star artistes from various states will give their scintillating performances in the evening segment during the festival and keep the visiting music lovers hooked to the musical blast and savour the typical folk tunes of various regions. The spectacular cultural bonanza will offer a string of fascinating folk songs and dances and folk musical instruments/accompaniments from various part of the country will keep the visiting buffs enthralled in the evening segment of the festival, daily, from 6 pm, onwards. The organizers have invited folk dancers and folk instrumentalists on the occasion, who will offer a slice of their adorable cultural heritage.

CHANDIGARH, February 1 – The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, will organize Aadi Mahotsav (Tribal Festival), in collaboration with North Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture (NZCC), Government of India, at Kalagram, Manimajra (Chandigarh), here from February 2 to 12, 2017.

His Excellency, the Governor of Haryana, Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki, will formally inaugurate the festival, on February 2, 2017, at Kalagram at 5 pm, sharp.

“The theme of the first-of-its-kind festival in tricity is ‘A celebration of the spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine and commerce’, which will bring into focus the rare folk art and craft, paintings, fabric, ethnic jewellery and adorable folk traditions of various states of the country. Acclaimed artists and artisans, drawn from as many as 25 states of the country, including Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and North-East states will be a part of this mega cultural mélange and showcase their traditional art, craft and culture”, said TRIFED Managing Director Pravir Krishna addressing media persons at the Chandigarh Press Club here, today.

The unique festival will offer an opportunity for the incurable shoppers, likely to show up in their thousands from distance corners of the tri city and its neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, who would have a lot to choose from a range of handloom, handicraft, ethnic jewellery items, and designers’ crockery items from as far as Jammu and Kashmir in the North, Tamil Naidu down South, and Gujarat in the West and Nagaland/Sikkim in the East. The traditional tribal jewellery, rare of the rarest craft items and artefacts will be a huge attraction for the inquisitive buyers.

“We have put up as many as 100 stalls, made of bamboos/ballies, hessian cloth and thatch to accommodate the artists and artisans specially invited to the festival. The sprawling 14-acre complex at Kalagram, housing an open-air theatre, sculpture-park, et al, bears a festive look, offering an opportunity for the tricity residents to be a part of the rare cultural bonanza. We are expecting a huge footfall from the tricity and other parts of the country. We have also put in place security arrangements and a hassle-free parking mechanism”, said Mr Krishna briefing media persons.

The managing director further added that TRIFED was engaged, heart and soul, in ameliorating the lot of small and marginal artists and artisans by way of inviting them to such mega festivals and offering them space for free and wherewithal. This also helps them to get rid of middlemen usurping their profits. He said special packages will be available for buyers on purchase of the products above Rs 2000 and a festival discount of 10 per cent on food and natural products and 15 per cent on all others products, besides a 40 per cent discount on select stocks that will be available for buyers. He also elaborated that for the first time the tribal merchandize payments will be accepted through credit and debit cards in line with the national aspiration to go cashless.

The hosts have gone a step further to create an ambient backdrop to go with the theme of the festival. Entry gate to the venue has been tastefully designed as per the theme of the season with its walls bearing mural paintings depicting the recurring tribal themes. Food Court consisting of 25 ethnic food stalls from various states of the country offering a rich fare of traditional Indian cuisines and culinary delights, where foodies will have a date with their the delectable delicacies.

The organizers further added that star artistes from various states will give their scintillating performances in the evening segment during the festival and keep the visiting music lovers hooked to the musical blast and savour the typical folk tunes of various regions. The spectacular cultural bonanza will offer a string of fascinating folk songs and dances and folk musical instruments/accompaniments from various part of the country will keep the visiting buffs enthralled in the evening segment of the festival, daily, from 6 pm, onwards. The organizers have invited folk dancers and folk instrumentalists on the occasion, who will offer a slice of their adorable cultural heritage.