Dimapur, March 26 (MExN): The Nagaland Chapter of Rashtriya Sanskrit Mahotsav (RSM) – North East began here on March 26 evening at Holy Cross HSS auditorium. The inaugural programme of the three-day cultural festival was graced by Director, South Zone Cultural Centre, Tahnjavur, Dr. Sajith EN as chief guest.
RSM - North East is being organized from March 23 to 31 covering all the eight North East states. It was inaugurated at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh on March 23.
In Nagaland, the festival will end on March 28. It will see around 500 artists representing several tribes of Nagaland exhibiting their cultural traditions. Apart from the Nagaland artists, 100 artists from across the country have also been invited to showcase folk and classical dance and music, informed a press release from Dr. Om Prakash Bharti, Director (I/C), NEZCC, Dimapur.
A ‘Sanskritik Yatra’ is also being organized, in which artists will meet and interact with several communities residing in different villages of Nagaland thereby proliferating cultural exchange. The Yatra will cover 100 villages of North East India.
The festival is being implemented through the seven Zonal Cultural Centres and in collaboration with other cultural organizations of different states of North East India. The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur has been entrusted with the responsibility as the nodal agency to carry forward the execution of the national cultural festival, the release added.
The essential thrust of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav – North East, according to Dr. Bharti, is to present rich diversity and uniqueness of Indian culture and bind the country in a single thread of culture and also to promote cultural inter-linkages amongst the people of North East India thereby strengthening national integration. RSM was conceptualized in 2015 by Ministry of Culture, Government of India to celebrate as well as promote and preserve the spirit of tradition, culture, heritage and diversity of India.
In other states of North East, the festival will be organised at Majuli (Assam) from March 27 to 29, JNMDA Complex in Imphal (Manipur) from March 27 to 29, Aizawl (Mizoram) from March 28 to 30, Gangtok (Sikkim) from March 28 to 30, Shillong (Meghalaya) from March 29 to 31, Khowai (Tripura) from March 29 to 31.
