This Republic Day, US President Barack Obama will notice Jharkhand Tourism at Rajpath in New Delhi. Temples of Maluti village, a National Heritage site will be shown in the Jharkhand tableau in Rajpath.The State for the fourth time has qualified for the national presentation. 35 local artists would be dancing before the tableau while it moves on the ceremonial boulevard.
“Among the 72 temples existing at Maluti situated on hills of Dumka District, the tableau will depict five temples. like, the original ones, the replica is made of terracotta structures wherein the group of artists would perform ‘Anganai’, a harvest-dance,” Information and Public Relations Directorate Director AK Pandey said. Asked on why ‘Maluti temples’ were preferred for the national representation, Pandey said last year, similar tableau was shown at Republic Day parade in Morhabadi ground and Dumka where many foreign tourists expressed desire to develop the heritage site.
“Maluti was overlooked before 85-year-old Gopaldas Mukherjee did a comprehensive study decades back. Else, no one around five to 10 kilometres of the village is aware about the unique temples. Islamic, Christian and Hindu scripts are written on the walls of these 16th century temples. Mukherjee wrote two books on the research. It was published by Dumka DPRO office. Thereafter, we decided to highlight the area,” Pandey mentioned.
When Mukherjee was contacted by The Pioneer, he stressed that the temples are threatened by natural disaster and utilisation of Global Heritage Fund on the site is awaited.“Tourists from Poland, Hongkong and Thailand visit here frequently. Ever since State Government has surrounded temples by a boundary and provided proper roads and street lights, our village has developed but a lot has to be done for temple renovation,” said the aged school teacher and retired Air-Force personnel.
Notably, last year ‘Dokhra Art’ had cleared the tableau test. In 2005, a tableau on Tana Bhagats made their way and in 2007, Tableau on Sarhul Festival was selected.Taking the local art and culture ahead, tableaus from 16 departments will be displayed at Morhabadi ground on Republic Day in front of Governor Syed Ahmed. The themes of the tableaus were approved by District Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey on Saturday.
“Akhra Dances will be performed on the tableaus of Art and Culture Directorate. Rural resources under Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment and livelihoods Project will be seen at Welfare department’s tableau. Information and Public Relations Department tableau will show the tribal ornaments. Education department’s ‘Pehle Padhai, Phir Vidaai’ scheme’s relevance would be shown in their tableau. Health department’s tableau will present details on Malnutrition,” stated a press communiqué from Choubey’s office.