Sanskriti Sandarbh, a three-day festival on cultural traditions of North-East and Eastern India, commenced at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya with
the inauguration of a two-day National Conference on ‘Oral and Expressive Traditions of the Indigenous People: Perspectives from Eastern and North Eastern India’ by Chief Guest Pankaj Rag, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture.
The keynote address was given by Anil Bora from Department of Folklore Studies, Guwahati University, Guwahati. In his address, he focused on the importance of oral tradition and the tribal societies of North-East India.
Chief Guest Pankaj Rag, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India gave emphasis on the documentation of the folklores and folk stories of India and cited examples of folklore about freedom fighters of first Independence struggle (1857) from Awadh region which were transferred to younger generations through oral tradition and are on the verge of extinction.
later, ‘Prof BK Roy Burman Memorial lecture’ was organised, where SB Chakrabarty, General Secretary, The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, spoke on ‘Prof BK Roy Burman: A Crusader in Anthropological Research in India’, where he gave brief account of Roy Burmans childhood, academic carrier and his journey as an social scientist by conducting social, cultural and economic researches and producing thematic monographs.
The session was chaired by Prof SN Choudhary, Rajiv Gandhi Chair, Barkatullah University, Bhopal.
In the afternoon, ‘Swad’ a three-day food festival commenced where ethnic cuisine of Manipur, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bhil Tribe were served to visitors at reasonable price.
The Bhil Community cuisine served had Maaka Roti, Brinjal Bhurta, Chutney, whereas Jharkhand’s famous litti, Potato Chokha, Thekua attracted foodies.
The cuisine of Manipur which included Eeromba (Smashed Potato Dish), Shingju (Sliced Salad), Uti (Matar Chhola), Champhut (Steamed Vegetable), MGA (Fish), Maroi, Kheer were a major attraction of food lovers and West Bengal thali served rice, daal-mung, Brinjal Bhaja, Dalna (Auliflower, Potato Curry), Maachher Jhol/Jhal, Tomato Chutney, Kheer.
The ethnic food festival will be organised at Veethi Sankul will continue on August 25 and 26, 2016 daily from 1.30 pm to 4 pm.