Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that rivers have played an important role in human civilization and culture. Our civilizations developed on the banks of rivers and this is where cultures have flourished. In our country, Neer, Nari and Nadi are all revered. With this view, ‘Nirjharani Mahotsav’ is being organized on Narmada Jayanti to express the feeling of gratitude towards the state’s lifeline Maa Narmada. Also, the multi-cultural forms of culture developed on the banks of Maa Narmada will be exhibited.
Principal Secretary Culture and Tourism Sheo Shekhar Shukla informed that in ‘Azadi ke Amrit Mahotsav, Cultural programmes will be organized in the districts of Amarkantak (Anuppur), Dindori, Mandla, Jabalpur, Hoshangabad, Nemawar (Dewas), Barman Ghat (Narsinghpur). Omkareshwar (Khandwa), Mandleshwar (Khargone), Dahi (Dhar) and Barwani on the occation of Narmada Jayanti, February 8 at 6:30 pm.
Shukla said that tribal and folk dances, Leela Natya gayan, musical performances as well as exhibition of tribal paintings based on tales of Narmada, picture exhibition on Vanvasis characters described in Ramayana and film will be screened in all these places. Activities like Aarti, Prabhat pheri etc. will be organized by the local administration on this occasion. Films ‘Jeevan Rekha’ and ‘Raag of River Narmada’ especially focusing on Maa Narmada will be screened.
In the Nirjharani Mahotsav, special local tribal dance will be presented in the tribal dominated districts of Amarkantak, Anuppur, Dindori and Mandla districts. The presentations include Karma-Saila dance and Pardhouni-Karma dance at Amarkantak, Gudumbaza and Karma dance at Dindori and Awadhi singing and Saila-Reena dance at Mandla. Along with this, ‘Shashwat’ picture exhibition centered on the Narmada Katha Chitra prevalent in the Gond community will also be organized.
Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, of Lucknow will perform Awadhi singing, besides Baiga-Karma dance by Sonsai Baiga and his group, Gond Saila-Reena dance by Balbir Singh and group will be held at Rapta Ghat, Mandla. Films including Jeevan Rekha and Raag of River Narmada will be screened in the festival. The film is directed and conceptualized by Rajendra Jangle. An exhibition centered on the Narmada Katha Chitra prevalent in the Gond community will also be organized in the festival.
Vanvasi Leela Natya ‘Nishadraj Guhay’ will be performed under the direction of Guru Prasannadas in Narmada Mandir Parisar, Amarkantak (Anuppur). This presentation has been composed by Yogesh Tripathi and music composition is by Milind Trivedi.
On the same day, Gond Gudumbaja dance will be performed by Shivprasad Dhurve and group, Gond Karma-Saila dance by Lamulal Dhurve and group and Baiga Parghouni-Karma dance by Dilip Kumar and group will be performed. Films Jeevan Rekha and Raag of River Narmada will be screened in the festival.
A picture exhibition centered on Narmada Katha prevalent in the Gond community and the Vanvasi Leela Nishadraj Guhay Nathdwara style, Rajasthan will also be held.
Presentation of Vanvasi Leela Natya Bhaktimati Shabri will be given under the direction of Guru Shri Nirmaldas ji at Government Excellence School, Dindori. This presentation has been written by Shri Yogesh Tripathi and music composition has been done by Shri Milind Trivedi. The second presentation in the festival will be the Gond Karma-Saila dance by Shri Jialal and partners, Baiga Karma dance by Shri Arjun Singh Dhurve and partners, Gond Gudumbaja dance by Shri Mayaram Dhurve and partners. In the Mahotsav, a photo exhibition of pictures of Narmada Katha prevalent in the Gond community and those based on Vanvasi Leela Natya Bhaktimati Shabari Cherialpatam style, Andhra Pradesh will also be organised.
At Bhedaghat, Jabalpur, Narmada dance drama will be presented by Sushri Vaishali Gupta and colleagues, devotional singing by Sushri Laxmi Dubey and companions and folk singing by Shri Rajkaran Patel and companions.
At Barman Ghat, Narsinghpur, the Narmada dance drama will be presented by Sushri Kirti Pramanik and partners, devotional singing by Sushri Muskan Chaurasia and partners and folk singing by Shri Ashish Srivastava and partners.
At Sethani Ghat, Hoshangabad, Narmada dance-drama will be presented by Sushri Lata Singh Munshi and partners, dance-drama and singing by Shri Kapil Sharma and partner.
At Nagar Ghat, Nemawar (Dewas), Narmada dance-drama will be presented by Sushri Archana Kumar and partner, Narmada centred singing by Shri Sunil Shukraware and companions and folk singing by Shri Abhishek Sen and partners.