A three-day long programme Himadri on Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) was organised at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal. The programme concluded on Monday. The programme was divided in two parts, where food festival was celebrated during the day and in the evening, cultural programmes were performed by Himalayan artistes.
The cultural programme commenced with a performance named Khanjari Rubana by artistes of Himachal Pradesh. They also performed the traditional Gaddi, and a Shiv Vandana.
Artistes from Chamoli, Uttarakhand, performed Juan Saari, Jhunelo and other traditional Chamoli dances. The leh artistes performed Mentok Khantamo, Yehgulu and Tashun — a farewell song sung at the conclusion of every ceremony.
On the concluding day of Himadri, chefs from ladakh served gud gud tea, Naichok, momos, chutagi, apricot juice and various mouth-watering dishes from the upper Himalayas. Chefs from Himachal Pradesh served rajma ka madra, mutton with pomegranate, aloo ka madra, dahi gosht with steamed rice cooked without using garlic, tomatoes and onions.
Earlier, a national workshop on Anthropolgy and Museums commenced at IGRMS on Monday as part of education and outreach activity.
The chief guest of the programme was noted anthropologist, Prof Ajit K Danda, Secretary, INCAA. He said, “Foreign researchers are visiting our country to research on societies. I believe the same work can be done by Indian anthropologist as well.”
Director, IGRMS, SB Ota delivered the welcome address. He said, “This workshop is very unique and interactive because students here are not going to spend time in the classrooms, they will be visiting every section of the Sanghralaya and learn how to collect and conserve specimen.” He further said the IGRMS has the pride of owning the nation’s largest collection of ethnographic material.
Former director, IGRMS and Professor, Department of Anthropology, Utkal University, Prof KK Basa gave the inaugural speech.
Prof Basa asked students not to consider this as a pleasure trip rather as a pilgrimage for students of anthropology. More than 50 postgraduate students of anthropology from various universities participated in this national workshop.