Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: Manipur and Assam States honoured Natrang Director Padamshree Balwant Thakur for organising ‘Jashan-e-Jammu and Kashmir’ in North-Eastern States and in special appreciation for bringing regions together through unique cultural initiatives.
The people of North-Eastern states were exposed to the lively vibrant culture of J&K through holding of the cultural festivals with the title ‘Jashn-e-Jammu and Kashmir’ in Guwhati and Imphal.
With just fifty professionally trained performers, he conceptualized a programme giving representation to most of the regions of J&K and presented two major festivals, thus creating a cultural bridge between J&K and North East. In addition to his Internationally acclaimed Dogri play ‘Ghumayee’, Balwant Thakur devised a traditional dance based programme ‘Celebrating Diversity’ putting together Kashmiri, Dogri, Ladakhi, Gojri, Pahari and Bhadarwahi cultures in one presentation.
A unique cultural album of Jammu and Kashmir showcasing the variegated variety of different colors, rhythms, costumes, design patterns and artistic expressions through the dances of J&K was conceptualized, designed and presented in Jashn-e-Jammu & Kashmir’.
At Guwahti the honours were done by Rajat Ganguly, Regional Head of North-East Centre of Sangeet Natak Akademi and in Imphal, the honours were done by Rattan Thiyam, Chairman of National School of Drama.
To cement this process of bridging cultural relations, Balwant Thakur has proposed to host a festival of the performing art traditions both classical and folk in addition to contemporary theatre in various parts of the State of J&K so the people out here are also exposed to the great arts of North Eastern parts of India.
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