Bhopal: The five-day Mahua Festival, organized to mark the 13th anniversary of the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum, concluded today with vibrant cultural performances at the museum located in Shyamla Hills. The festival showcased traditional and tribal dances, crafts, and cuisine from 13 states, including Madhya Pradesh.
Organized by the Department of Culture, the festival was held under the joint aegis of the Tribal Folk Art and Dialect Development Academy and the North Central Zone Cultural Centre (Prayagraj), with the support of the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (Nagpur). Dr. Dharmendra Pare, Director of the Academy, welcomed the artists at the closing ceremony.
Puppetry demonstrations and training sessions were organized for children, where artists from Chhattisgarh shared insights into the intricacies of puppet making. Additionally, a traditional craft exhibition displayed works involving bamboo, metal, textiles, wood turning (lacquerware), pottery, and other crafts. Traditional dishes from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tripura, and Assam were the highlights of the indigenous cuisine section.
As part of the cultural performances, Vandana Mishra and her troupe from Prayagraj presented Awadhi folk songs and bhajans. This was followed by performances of the Singgi Chham dance by artists from Sikkim, the Gair dance by artists from Rajasthan, and the Saila dance by artists from Uttar Pradesh.
Artists from Mizoram captivated the audience with the Cheraw (bamboo) dance, while a troupe from Odisha performed the Ranapa dance and artists from Uttar Pradesh presented the Jhumar dance. Artists from the Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh performed the Gudumbaja dance.
Artists from Telangana presented the Mathuri dance, a troupe from Karnataka performed the Kamsale dance, and artists from Andhra Pradesh presented the Tapetegullu dance. These performances offered a glimpse into the folk and tribal cultural traditions of various states. A large number of art enthusiasts, students, and citizens participated in the festival, enjoying the country’s diverse folk and tribal cultural heritage.
