The ‘Sacred Grove festival’ concluded on Thursday at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. On the last of the sacred Grove Festival ritualistic activities were carried out at ‘Umang lai’ the sacred grove of Manipur in the premises of Manav Sangrahalaya.
The sacred grove festival is celebrated every year in Manav Sangrahalaya to promoteconservation and protection of biodiversity. The adverse effects of biodiversity degradation, ecologist, environmentalists etc have made conservation of biodiversity as on issue of global significance. Earlier there have many traditional conservation practices of indigenous communities which contributed to the conservation and protection of biodiversity-such practices were named as sacred groves.
The ritual by Manipur’s priest began with welcoming the dead ancestors to come and bless the people of the community with good health and harvest. After that a white coloured rooster was released as an offering to the ancestors. The ladies of the community take parts in the rituals equally. Community people offer many offerings to their ancestors like sweets, flowers, singing and dancing. This ritual is carried out in Manav Sangrahalaya annually according to the Manipuri calendar since its establishment 15 years back.
Meanwhile, with an idea to promote cultural aspects among people, the Directorate of Swaraj Sansthan is organising a musical recital of Raiso Gayan in a series of Desh Raag Samaroh at Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum on January 5, 2014.
Raiso songs have significant importance in an ancient ballad tradition of India. Raiso songs describe the tale of fighters and graceful adornment. It recites the brave tale of hero in lyrical form. Poet Kalyan Singh beautifully described fighter tale of Maharani lakshmibai in lakshmibai Raiso. Reciting the same tradition of Raiso, Hargovind Vishwa and group will present Raiso gayan from 6:00 pm at Madhya Pardesh Tribal Museum on January 5. Visitors will be given free entry in the concert.
Further, in the expansion of Desh Raag Samaroh based on musical concert of folk songs and folklores, the recitation of Basdeva gayaki will be held on January 12, 2014 in Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum.