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Celebrating tribal art

Taking a step further in its efforts to showcase, promote and record for posterity the priceless vocal and visual art traditions of the country, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in the Capital is now hosting the spring festival of Adivasis.

"Baha-Sarhul Festival''

The "Baha-Sarhul Festival'' brings to the fore the culture, tradition and way of life of people forgotten in obscure, far-flung corners of the country. The tribal communities of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh are showcasing their quintessential rituals and musical and dance traditions at the festival that opened on Monday.

The festival promises to be much more than an exhibition of tribal dances and music. Painters, sculptors and craftsmen along with ritual performers and healers are showcasing their skills and knowledge at the workshop organised as part of the festival. The works of these tribal artistes will be put up at an exhibition this coming Sunday -- the final day of the festival.

Apart from bringing to limelight the cultural life of tribal people, the festival also offers a peek into their everyday life. Their utensils, the ornaments they wear and the musical instruments with which they perform -- all find a place at the festival.

The facets of the tribal culture and lifestyle will also be preserved for posterity by IGNCA. The centre had long begun efforts to document the fading art forms and now the oral histories of the people tucked away in the farthest corners will remain alive at the IGNCA archives. The oral narrations, traditional healing practices and even the legendary storytellers called the "Karambintis" will be documented for the future through audio-visuals.

Tribal ritual

On the final day of the festival, visitors will get a peep into a ritual of the tribal people. A Baha ritual will be part of the events on Sunday morning. A seminar on "Folk Festivals and Ecological Wisdom" will also be held the same day. The curtain will come down on the weeklong celebrations with tribal dances by various communities on the IGNCA lawns in the evening. -- P. Anima

-- P. Anima

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