The sixth edition of the annual National Tribal Dance Festival hosted by the SC/ST Development Department (SSD) of the State Government in association with the India Gandhi Rashtriya Manab Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal, concluded here on Thursday.
Staged at the sprawling and tastefully decorated Utkal Mandap open-air auditorium, the three-day event – the only of its kind in Odisha – showcased 25 presentations featuring above 200 artistes – both dancers and musicians – from the States of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Odisha. The event witnessed good crowd that comprised a large number of tribal students brought to the capital from various parts of the State.
“We must be proud of the rich and vibrant tribal culture which is unique to Odisha. The State has a harmonious amalgamation of the Jagannath culture along with the tribal culture. While we have 62 tribes in the State, the tribal population constitutes about 23 per cent of the State’s population. Hence, an annual national tribal dance festival is aptly being hosted by the State,” stated the SSD Commissioner during the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday.
Tribal Ministers lal Behari Himirika and Sudam Marandi – inaugurated the festival along with the Commissioner and Director of the host department besides IGRMS curator Arun Kero. In a touching speech, Minister Marandi narrated how dance has been an integral part of the tribal life. “I am proud of being a tribal. Since the tribal people have been the earliest inhabitants of humankind on this earth, they have conserved and carried forward the most ancient culture,” he emphasized and observed that no training is required for the tribal people to master dance and music as it constitutes their way of life.
In his address, Himirika expressed his concern over the marginalization of tribal culture in the era of globalization.
“Tribal culture is adversely affected by the globalization. Hence, such exclusive festivals are the need of the day,” he stressed.
“Bhubaneswar has been the best choice for the IGRMS to host the festival since its launch six years ago as the environment here is quite conducive,” stated its curator in his address.