Jashn-e-Kashmir brings spotlight on folk traditions
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, October 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated ‘Jashn-e-Kashmir – New Kashmir, New Hope’, a three-week long cultural festival celebrating tradition, culture and heritage in Srinagar.
After the relaunch of cinema theatres in the Kashmir valley, Sinha is seen working to revive people’s activities to connect with their cultural roots. The cultural festival is being organized by ‘All J&K Folk Artists Association’ and ‘Shah Qalander Folk Theatre’ in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, and the Office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.
“Our unique diversity is our pride and our biggest strength. Such festivals will encourage artistes, artisans and craftsmen to promote the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. The government is working out a roadmap for preserving and reviving the culture and folk traditions of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Sinha on the occasion. He said that several schemes for promoting folk arts, literature and visual arts have been prepared to give a new impetus to art and culture.
Sinha also said that the J&K administration has taken steps to reconnect youth to their roots and provide an environment and a forum to folk artistes, visual artistes and authors to showcase shared goals and values. Schemes like ‘Guru Shishya Parampara’ to pass on the valued traditions of Jammu Kashmir to the coming generations; preservation of folklore, UT writers camp, national theatre festivals, inter-state cultural exchange programmes, international visits and cultural events in far flung areas will strengthen our traditional cultural richness, added Sinha.
He stressed that artistes are reflection of social values, social progress and the administration is fully committed for their welfare. “We are aware of the difficulties being faced by many such senior artistes, writers who are not active today due to ill health and the hardships of the families of those artistes who are not with us anymore. The Government will ensure such artistes, writers or their dependents are provided with financial assistance,” said the Lt. Governor.
Even while terrorists are carrying out targeted killings of the Kashmiri Pandits and migrants, the J&K administration appears working to make bridges with the people to project the semblance of the normalcy in the valley. Recently, the J&K administration allowed sell of bears, while also taking decision for disinvestment of a few public sector units to attract investments with aims to spur local employments.
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