NEW DELHI: Dance, music, drama, puppetry, and handicrafts showcasing the spectacular diversity of India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Bengal through folk, tribal and classical art forms in all its dimensions will be the focus of the fifth Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav being organized in the northeast from 23 to 31 March 2017.

An Exhibition on Buddhist art and tradition is also being organized at Parade Ground of Tawangon the occasion of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav to showcase the splendour and magnificence of the cultural sphere. Craftsmen from all over the country will display and sell handicrafts to the general public. Chefs of traditional delicacies from different regions of the country will treat the visitors to an unparalleled culinary experience. Day-long performances of traditional performers of fringe-folk arts like ‘Behroopiyas’, ‘Baazigars’, ‘Kacchi Ghori’, etc. will take place in the Parade Ground from 23 March to 25 March 2017.

The inaugural ceremony at Parade Ground in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh will exhibit varied art forms like Buddhist Chant and Gung, Vedic Chanting, Purulia Chhou, Yoga, Dhol Cholom and Pung Cholom, Sri Khol, BhorTaal, Ladakhi dance, Chakhesang music, Bonalo, Siddhi Dhamal and Godambaza

The festival will extend to other North Eastern states including, Dimapur (Nagaland) from 26 to 28 March, Majuli (Assam) from 27 to 29 March, Imphal (Manipur) from 27 to 29 March, Aizawl (Mizoram) from 28 to 30 March, Gangtok (Sikkim) from 28 to 30 March, Shillong (Meghalaya) from 29 to 31 March and Khowai (Tripura) from 29 to 31 March.

The opulent Main Stage at Parade Ground in the open air stage area will exhibit cultural programmes from 23 to 25 March between 12:30 pm and 4 pm. The nine-day cultural extravaganza will be inaugurated by the Governor of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya in the presence of Union Cultural and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma and Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu as Guest of Honour.

The essential thrust of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) is to present the rich diversity and uniqueness of Indian culture and to promote the cultural inter-linkages amongst the states to strengthen National integration and also to bid the artists of other parts of the country with the people of North East in a single thread of culture. The Mahotsav was envisioned to preserve, promote and popularize the heritage and cultural diversity of Indian culture and reconnect the new generation with Indian culture.

About 5,000 artists from North East India and 2,000 artists from across the country will showcase India’s cultural heritage through performances, arts and cuisines. The festival will be implemented through the seven Zonal Cultural Centres and other organization under Ministry of Culture. The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur has been entrusted with the responsibility as the nodal agency to carry forward the execution of the National Cultural Festival. Each Zonal Cultural Centre has been provided with slots to present their arts during the festival which would showcase an amalgamation of ‘Ek Bharat, Srestha Bharat’, ‘Hamaari Sanskriti, Hamaari Panchaan’ and ‘Swachh India’.