Shilpgram Utsav, a unique festival celebrating folk culture, was inaugurated in the city of lakes on Wednesday. State Governor Kalraj Mishra inaugurated the festival by playing traditional drums and lighting lamps.
On the inauguration of Shilpgram Utsav, 125 artists from 9 states displayed their art under ‘Samagam’ on the main stage. The program started with the prologue in which the light of the festival was spread by the lamps. After this, the program started with Shri Khol dance of West Bengal. This was followed by the mesmerizing performances of Jammu Kashmir Roff, Bodai Shikhla of Assam, Gotipua of Orissa, Lavani of Maharashtra, Samai of Goa, Chhau of Jharkhand, Dang of Gujarat and Bhangra of Punjab. In the end, all the participants together gave an attractive group dance performance on the theme of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Mishra said that this Shilpgram of Udaipur is famous throughout the country. The best part is to experience the rural and indigenous culture of Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The culture, lifestyle and traditions of different ethnic communities of all these states are depicted here in the huts.
The Governor said that 400 artisans and 700 folk artists are participating in the Shilpgram festival. All of them have a priceless treasure of art. He said that it is very important that in Shilpgram, the pictures of Saint Mavji Maharaj of Beneshwar Dham have been photographed and documented. This is our heritage. The collection and preservation of this heritage in this way is a commendable work.
Addressing the ceremony, the Governor welcomed all guests and said that Shilpgram is a festival of celebration of life.
Indian culture is directly related to the rituals associated with life. Art has been born out of the rituals associated with life. He said that by looking at the stalls set up here, it is clearly felt that how the artists have engraved the traditions related to life in their creations in craft, painting and other arts.
The Governor said that Indian culture believes in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. This whole world is our family. That’s why our culture is filled with the feelings of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhin. Various types of arts and handicrafts have been elaborately discussed in our Shilpa Shastras. Different types of handicrafts, designs and principles related to them have been described under the craft.
“Sixty-four arts have been mentioned in our scriptures. Carpentry, architecture, jewellery art, theatrical art, music, medicine, dance, poetry, etc. all come in these sixty-four arts. The Vedic period noun of arts has also been a craft here and each art attains perfection only by mixing with other art,” said Governor.
In the beginning, the Governor inaugurated the exhibition of paintings documented by the West Zone Cultural Center in the Sangam Auditorium by photographing the pictures contained in the chapadas of Saint Mavji Maharaj of Beneshwar Dham. During this he visited the exhibition and appreciated its beauty. Mahant Achyutanand Maharaj of Dham and Kiran Soni Gupta, director of West Zone Cultural Center, apprised the Governor about the theme of the paintings. The Governor looked at all the paintings satisfactorily and described their subject matter, colors and art as wonderful and appreciated the efforts made by the Center towards their conservation.
The program ended with the national anthem.