Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav will be held in Tawang
Itanagar
Calling on Chief Minister Pema Khandu at his offices here this morning, North East Zonal Cultural Center (NEZCC) Director Lipokmar Tzudir informed that the Union Ministry of Culture has decided to hold the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, the biggest national cultural festival in the country, in Tawang.
Tzudir, along with officials of the state Department of Art & Culture, in the brief meeting sought the opinion of the Chief Minister on finalization of the dates for the festival. It was decided that the festival, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, would be celebrated in Tawang from March 2 to 6 early next year.
Objective of the annual festival is to popularize and showcase the cultural diversity of India be it art, artisans, dance, handicrafts or flavours from cross the nation.
The NEZCC Director informed that more than 600 artistes are expected to participate in the 5-day festival from across the country.
“The event will have at least 80-90 craft stalls, pavilions representing each of the seven Zonal Cultural Centre’s of India (East, West, North, South, North Central, South Central and North East) besides performances by artistes and day-long activities,” he said.
The Chief Minister, who volunteered to head the local coordination committee, assured every possible logistical support from the state government and the district administration to the event that will be organized by the NEZCC on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
“As the event would coincide with the Lossar festival, it would be an added bonus for local residents in their celebrations,” Khandu observed.
He expressed gratitude to the Union Minister of Culture Dr Mahesh Sharma for giving Arunachal Pradesh the opportunity to host such a mega event. He also thanked Union MoS Home Kiren Rijiju, who has been influential from the conceptual level and final selection of Arunachal Pradesh for the festival.
Meanwhile, Tzudir also had detailed discussion with the Chief Minister with regard to establishment of a regional cultural center of the NEZCC at Itanagar.
He informed that the state department of art & culture owns a plot of land (approx. 18 acres) near Jote here and has offered it for establishment of the proposed center.
Tzudir requested the Chief Minister to call a meeting of the state level development committee for the project soon and pave way for engaging an experienced architect to prepare a DPR, which would be then submitted to the Ministry of Culture by NEZCC for approval and sanction.
The Chief Minister assured to fast track the project and lease out the said plot of land that incidentally falls adjacent to the upcoming film and television institute to NEZCC to step up further procedures.
Once completed the center would have state-of-the-art facilities like craft stalls, open arena, auditorium, dormitory, guest house, library, canteen, etc.
