The State Government will hold Narmada Mahotsav from January 31 to February 2 in the picturesque plains of Amarkantak on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti.
During the Mahotsav, Maha Arti will be performed daily by 7 priests at ‘Ramghat’ on the banks of Maa Narmada in Amarkantak. During this time, a light and sound show based on the life of Maa Narmada will be organised. Maha Arti will be telecast live at various places in the city of Amarkantak. The rich cultural heritage of the region, art and agricultural products like the healthy Kodo-rice etc will be demonstrated before the public at the Mahotsav.
Trekking activities will be organised on 4 routes daily to make nature lovers aware of the natural and physical landscapes of the area in the Narmada Mahotsav. Similarly, Yoga teachers of the Indira Gandhi Tribal University will conduct yoga camps for the general public in the local Maikal Park.
The first day of Narmada Mahotsav will begin with yoga practice at Maikal Park from 7 am to 8 am followed by trekking activities from 8 to 10 am from Shambhu Dhara to Panchdhara, Kapil Dhara and from Kabir Chambutara to Dhoni Pani and Sonmuda. After this, Maa Narmada Shobha Yatra will be taken out from Narmada temple from 10 am to 1 pm.
The formal opening of the Mahotsav will take place at 12 noon at Circuit House Ground. Local folk artists Gudum, Saila and Karma of Baiga Adivasi tribal group, etc will perform folk dances from 5 to 7 pm at the inauguration site. After the Maha Arti from 7 to 7.30 pm, local folk artists will again display local folk arts on stage.
On the second day of the Amarkantak Narmada Mahotsav-2020, on February 1, all the programmes will be focused on women power. The theme of the day’s programmes will be ‘Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao’.
On the third day of the Narmada Mahotsav on February 2, a cultural evening will be organised at the Circuit House Ground from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm after yoga practice, trekking, Maa Narmada Jayanti Pujan, Kanya Bhoj, local folk art staging and Maha Arti. Maithili Thakur, Ayavi and Rishabh Thakur will present musical performances in the cultural evening. Maithili is a well-known singer of Bollywood songs besides Bhojpuri, Kajri, Chhath and other regional folk songs.
On the fourth and final day of the Narmada Mahotsav, on February 2 from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, renowned singer Kailash Kher will perform with his band ‘Kailasa’.