For the first time, three workshops would be held under the national music and dance festival Sirpur, Chhattisgarh, which is marked as the capital of Dakshin Koshal in the Indian history.
Chief Minister Raman Singh would inaugurate the three-day national-level festival, to be organised by Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, an undertaking of the State Government, on January 4 at 5.30 pm. According to the schedule, cultural programmes would be organised in the evening on each day. Besides, workshops would be organised for children and youths from 10 am to 5 pm, in which training in the preparation of main traditional musical instruments and folk dance and handicrafts (terracotta) would be imparted.
It is the second national music and dance festival being organised at Sirpur by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, but the organisation of workshops on the handicrafts and arts of Chhattisgarh in it is first -of-its-kind.
Training in the preparation of the major but near extinct musical instruments of the State would be an attraction of the workshop, in which people would be taught the method of preparation of tambura, mohri, runjhu, gatka, ghumda, khanjari, dholak, charhe, khirkhitti, nagdevan (veena) etc. Similarly, training in the main folk dance forms of the State like Karma, Panthi, Sua, Bhojli, Dadariya would be imparted.
In the workshop of terracotta, the main handicrafts of the State, training would be imparted in preparing clay models. Methods of cartoon preparation and its presentation would be taught to the students. The tourism board has invited skilled trainers to impart training in these workshops. According to officers of the tourism board, the new generation of the State would get information about the rich cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh through these workshops.
On getting training, they would have interest in protecting and utilising their heritages properly. Besides, they would get employment opportunity also. Interested children and youths can contact the office of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board at Telibandha, Raipur.