New Delhi: It is important to preserve and promote tribal cultures and heritage in order to uplift the quality of people living in tribal areas, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said here on Saturday.
"Markets, fairs, and dance and music performances are part of the rich tribal culture and heritage... These are also major forms of their livelihood. Hence it is important to preserve and promote these cultures to uplift the quality of tribal lives," Oram said at the ongoing National Tribal Festival here.
The first National Tribal Festival 'Vanaj', featuring around 900 participants from across the country, kick-started here yesterday.
The opening ceremony saw dance performances by tribal artists from four states. The dances were by Kutia Kondh, Dhemsa and Munda Tribes from Odisha, followed by Dobru and flute performance from Gujarat, Toda and Kaniyan dance shows from Tamil Nadu, and Pandvani Gayan and Gond style Karma dance from Madhya Pradesh.
The Union Minister also launched a calender on the theme of 'tribal paintings and tribal festivals'.
There are approximately 900 participants from Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The festival is being held at three venues. The cultural programmes at Central Park in Connaught Place and the sale of tribal products is taking place at Baba Kharak Singh Marg. At the third location, in Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), cultural programmes are being held as well as an exhibition of the tribal products is on display.
