To celebrate the idea of unity in diversity, the Ministry of Culture is organising the 7th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat matrix in Karnataka beginning January 14, 2018. The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth Kumar and The Union Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Dr. Mahesh Sharma will inaugurate the Mahotsav on 14th January 2018 at 7.30pm at the Jnana Jyothi Auditorium, Palace Road, Gandhi Nagar, and Bengaluru.
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 31st October, 2016 to promote engagement amongst the people of different states/UTs so as to enhance mutual understanding and bonding between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing stronger unity and integrity of India. The State paired with Karnataka is Uttarakhand. The Mahotsav will cover a profusion of art forms from classical and folk, music and dance, theatre to literature and the visual arts and would offer the chance to experience the best in established and emerging virtuosity. A handloom and handicrafts-utsav is part of the proposed event. The gastronomic culture of several partnering states will be showcased through a food festival.
The Mahotsav will be spread across the following venues in Karnataka:
- Bengaluru on 14 – 16 January
- Hubli – Dharwad on 17 – 18 January
- Mangaluru on 19 – 20 January
Cultural utsavs will be held at all the venues in Karnataka. In addition to the cultural fiesta, a gamut of events have been planned for the Mahotsava in Bengaluru:-
At the Manikyavelu Mansion (National Gallery of Modern Art)
- Exhibition on Nicholas Roerich, a Russian artist, writer, theosophist and archaeologist who lived and died in the Himalayas. Gallery walk through with curator between 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm.
- Slide – talk presentation on artists from Uttarakhand on January 15 between 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm.
At the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, (Southern Regional Centre)
- Exhibition on Uttarakhand curated by IGNCA
- Screening of films on Almora Ramleela and Pandavleela between 3.00pm – 5.00pm
- At the Jnana Jyothi Auditorium (main venue)
‘Celebrating our plural traditions, ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’
Time: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cultural Programs:
| Day 1 (January 14) | Day 2 (January 15) | Day 3 ( January 16) |
| Flautist Chanden Kumar from Karnataka | Classical vocal recital by M Venkatesh Kumar from Dharwad | Karnataka Sangeet Symphony led by violinst Apoorva Krishna |
| Ramman ritual theatre of GarhwalHimalayas (inscribed by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage in 2009) – an IGNCA presentation
|
Chholiya, Chhapeli Nritya by Dancers from Uttrakhand
|
Thadya Chhapeli Nritya by dancers from Uttrakhand
|
Also at the main venue:-
- Handloom and Handicraft Utsav organised by the Zonal Cultural Centres in partnership with state governments. Live demonstration of different crafts from Uttarakhand.
- Food – festival with 6 traditional cuisines from different states with special focus on Uttarakhand.
Time: 4p.m. – 10p.m.
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