Chandigarh, April 14th: The kaleidoscope of variegated culture Heritage and traditions across the regions of the country has been showcased by the seven Zonal Cultural Centres at the venue of their Silver Jubilee celebrations –Parade Ground Panchkula. Each Cultural Zone is focussing on their own folk traditions, arts and crafts of their respective states The authentic fragrances and flavors of rich Zonal cuisines are also presented in food arena while the their folk music, folk instruments and folk dances are performed in specially theme based Zonal Centers seven mini villages.
Each Zonal Centre has their logos in particular colours which are reflected in the decoration with these vibrant colours which have a special coloured canopy running over all stalls. The murals and motifs are depicted on the exterior wall of the seven mini villages which have been attracting large visitors despite inclement weather. The colourful interior wall with ethnic and folk art pieces in the central area has become major attraction for each Zonal Centre. The paintings highlight the Folk dances and cultural traditions of various states in each Zonal Centre.
The North Zone Cultural Centre has saffron orange colour as the theme with Punjabi Folk Figurines and animals as the main focussed centralized arena. The master crafts person of Sates of J & K, Punjab ,Harynana , Chandigarh showcasing the rich traditional heritage of the region by having works of paper machie, Pachmina kani Woven shawls (J & K), Punjabi Tilla Jutti, phulkari of Punjab , Terracotta and Sandal wood and tapestry handloom item of Haryana .The special tradional hand made Punja Darri of Punjab was in great demand by the visitors .To add attraction each zone has set up a stage depicting the culture, dance and folk art of tgheir resoective states for the day performances which includes Banchari, Been Jogi, Bazighar, Bhand mirasi, Bach Nagma and Jhoomar being performed in NZCC mini village .
The North Eastern seven sisters are depicting their tradition and Heritage with special Thanka paintings of Sikkim, pottery and Kouna Craft of Manipur, Bamboo craft of Mizorum ,Nagland and Tripura, Woodcraft items of Sikkkim, Jewellery and Dry flowers from Nagaland, Teracotta and Reed mats/Sheeta pati of Assam were also attracting large visitors who also visual delights of Folk dance performances on special folk instruments and Mungyanta Art form performance in colourful traditional dresses at their aagan stage .
The Western Zone Cultural Centres have rich traditional crafts form inherited from ancestors since aegis which are reflected in the rogan work and copper bells of Bhuj area of Gujrat. Patola Saree , cloth toys, Pottery og Gujrat Region have been very popular with the visitors.The Rajasthan state have Crafts like Pavad Katputli, Tie and dye, Bhandej, through Udaipiu based master crafts person .The lac work especially Bangles and jewellery items were quiet hit with women folk.The beed work of Maharashtra was another attraction .The Blue pottery ,Tarkashi ,Bassi Toys and kawad of Rajasthan are popluar in this Mini Village.The Western Zone sates depicted their special art form like BhopaBhop, Kachi Ghori,Bhapang, Bhawai, Acrobars and Stick Walkers. Tera taal, kervano vesh.
The South Central Zone Cultural Centre comprising of States of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Nagpur, Hyderabad have master craftsperson showsacing traditional crafts like Loha Shilp, Leather Puppets, Dhokra Shilip, wood items including tribal wood arrows , kalamkari, leather puppets of Andhra Pradesh have been pulling lot of visitors. The paper doll and mask block printing cloth material, bell metals of Madhya Pradesh are also very in demand amongst visitors. The folk performances in the angaan like Shabad Bhed, Bharthari, Saila.
The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre village has craft and art forms of states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand etc.The special craft of eastern India are woven fabric with traditional inlay work in Natural fibres, silk etc.The woodcraft of West Bengal is famous as it is made from Cocunut tree. Many craft has traditional Heritage like terracotta, Dokra craft belonging to backward tribes making crafts in brass. The Toys of West Bengal and Paper Machie products alongwith Bamboo craft items attracted a lot of visitors on the first day of opening of the Craft zone at the seven Minbi villages.Thev special day performances included Harboal, Behrupia, Mukha Khel, Ranappa, Zikir, Karma etc.
The North Central Zone Cultural Centre had specially created colourful Murals and motifs depicting arts form realted to Indian God and Goddesses. The traditional firozabad items, tassar sarees, mahesbari sarees are popular in this village with famous Bhand art performance at the aagan stage within the village.
The South Zone Cultural Centre comprising of States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnatake have depicted their crafts like special wood carving, Inlay craft of Tamil Nadu, Terracotta , Pottery and Embrodery ,patch work craft of Tamil Naidu The Kondappali Toys craft of AP, Lac Ban;les craft, Leather lamp shades of AP region attracted a lot of visitors on the first day. The other craft work like Keral murals, painting craft , Kalamkari, Pochampalli handloom craf and oearl jewellary craft hjave also been attracting large crowd. The aangan area in this village had traditional art form performances like Dholu Kunita, Madhuri and thappattam which attracted visitors .
The performances given by artists on the main stage today were highly appreciated by the audience-The singing and musical performances like Lambadi from Andhra Pradesh, performances included Thumchum from jammu & kashmir, vanjali from haryana, Jugni from Punjab, Baul from West Bengal, margamkali from Kerela, lambadi from Andhra Pradesh, kajari from Uttar Pradesh, tati from Nagaland, Chhapeli from Uttarakhand, Langa Mangniar from Rajasthan,.Whereas the dances Kalbelia of Rajasthan, Sidhi were main attraction of the evening apart from Pung Cholam from Manipur, Jebro from Jammu & Kashmir, Lahauli from Himachal Pradesh, Jhoomar from Punjab, Dhangari Gaza from Maharashtra, machhi from Daman, bro Zai Arunanchal Pradesh, Nicobarese from Andman Nicobra islands, Kalbelia from Rajasthan, Mewasi from Gujarat,Gotipua from Odisha, Theyyam from kerela, Gidha from Punjab, Kavadi Karagam from Tamil Nadu, Bihu from assam, Singhi Chham from Sikkim,Brij Ras from U.P, Dandia Ras from Gujarat, Purulia Chhau from West Bengal,Songi Mukhavte from Maharashtra, Bohada from Dadra & Nagae Haveli, Lambadi from andhra Pradesh, Ka Shad Mastieh from Meghalaya, Kud from Jammu & Kashmir, Gadli Korku from Madhya Pradesh, Guruwara Kunitha from Karnataka, Ghoomar from Haryana, Solakia from Mizoram, Sangrai Mog from Tripura, Margamkali from Kerela, Dhedia from Uttar Pradesh, Gaur Madia from Chattisgarh, ,Jhaijia from Bihar, Ngada Rhma from Nagaland , Ghode Modeni from Goa, Paika from Jharkhand, Chhapeli from Uttarakhand, Bhangra from Punjab and Siddhi Dhamal from Gujarat.It was followed by Folk instrument ensemble.
Despite inclement and bad weather, public throng to the various areas of the village to see the cultural performances as well as as art craft work o master crafts men in the seven Zonal Centres mini Village. The Enthusiasm of the artist was also high due to large visitors pouring in throughout the day and the evening cultural performances were a great attraction when the weather cleared out and was over clouded with the cultural extravaganza of thousand of artists. The Silver Jubilee celebrations are a great hit with people across the country as these are highlighted through facebook, twitter media.