Extraordinary collection of handicraft items made by famous craftsmen of Chhattisgarh will be showcased in Rajyotsava event this year, officials stated.
On the 14th anniversary of State Foundation Day, the State Government is holding the Rajyotsav event at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Capitol Complex in Naya Raipur from November 1 to 3.
At the ‘Shilpgram’ corner of Rural Industry Department at Rajyotsav venue, excellent artifacts of bell metal, wrought iron, terracotta, shell craft, bamboo art of Jagdalpur, Parchalpal, Narayanpur and Dantewada, Godna, bamboo and wooden art of Surguja and Jashpur and dry flower/stone craft of Bilaspur will be put on display for sale.
Nearly 13, 217 craftsmen of the State have been benefitted in previous five years under various schemes operated by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board. The board has provided handicraft training, advanced equipments, workshop subsidy, marketing set-up and other facilities to the youngsters in rural areas to make them self-employed.
Board officials informed on Wednesday that in last five years, 4,764 beneficiaries have availed handicraft training, 1,228 beneficiaries have received advanced equipments, 380 beneficiaries and six cooperative societies have been provided workshop subsidy. In addition, 6,809 craftsmen have been benefited under the ‘Craftsmen Health Insurance Scheme’ and 10 National Award winner craftsmen have been provided financial assistance.
This apart, the Rajyotsava event will bring together varied successful flavours of the State onto a common platform inviting visitors from across the globe to experience the best of Chhattisgarh. ‘Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava – 2014’ will not only host its cultural, artistic and intellectual heritage, but will also welcome the representation of other States.
The event will also see commendations being bestowed on notable personalities who will be awarded with ‘Chhattisgarh State Honours-2014’. The three day festival, expect to witness a cultural razzmatazz that will include cultural representations by renowned artists from Manipur, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Delhi and other States.
‘Parab Chhattisgarh’, a mélange of cultural presentation of the varied ethnic and tribal traditions of the State will open with a traditional dance presentation that will see representation of local artists from over 35 tribes on November 1 2014. The event will see a culmination of celebrations via a traditional instruments featured musical concert by nearly 200 artists curated from all across the state on November 3.
Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, Culture, Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Chandrakar says, “Rajyotsava is our premium annual event which attracts a great number of visitors from Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country. Chhattisgarh is rapidly emerging as a role model for eco-social development and tourism is playing a vital role in showcasing our achievements to the outer world. The land of Chhattisgarh has so much to offer in terms of art, culture and tradition, and via our presentation at Rajyotsava 2014, we seek to appraise the audience with all the cultural heritage of the State.”
“Our Parab Chhattisgarh presentation has been curated by bringing together all the cultural constituents of the state, along with intermix of corresponding cultures from across the country to create a melange of culture that our great country has to offer. I feel proud to be associated with an event of such magnitude which pertinently reflects the cultural richness of the state,” he stated.
Santosh Misra, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board said, “A State that is resplendent in rich tribal history, we seek to bring forth unknown and unexplored stands of our cultural heritage through the cultural presentations.”
“Via Parab Chhattisgarh we seek to showcase our diversity to the world, which we are certain will attract major visitors from across the world. The richness in terms of cultural diversity that the state has to offer is to be showcased to the world in a grand format like Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava 2014 which acts as the perfect cultural ambassador of the state to the world,” he said.