Bastar Dusshera, World's Longest Festival, Begins In Chhattisgarh
The 600-year-old 'Bastar Dusshera' commenced on 'Hariyali Amavashya' with the performance of the Patjatra rituals at the Danteswari temple of Jagadalpur in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district.
Bastar Dussehra, which is considered as world's longest festival, commences after performing 'Patjatra' rituals, according to which worship is offered to a log of saal tree.
The festival is celebrated for around 75 days.
The festival in Bastar's division headquarters Jagdalpur is marked by the participation of tribal as well as other people in huge numbers.
As per the tradition, the log, which is worshipped, is used to make a massive chariot. On this wooden chariot, the canopy of goddess 'Danteshwari' (the deity of Bastar) is taken around the city.
Jul 22, 2023
President Droupadi Murmu to Inaugurate 'Festival of Libraries 2023'
President of India Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the unique 'Festival of Libraries 2023', a two-day event to be held on August 5 to 6, 2023 at Hall No. 5 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Festival is being organised by the Union Ministry of Culture. The Minister for Law and Justice (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Culture, and Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, unveiled the schedule of, "Festival of Libraries" in New Delhi. The Secretary Ministry of Culture Govind Mohan and Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture Mugdha Sinha were also present on the occasion.
Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar will grace the Valedictory Ceremony of the event. The festival will also highlight iconic libraries from across the world in order to initiate a conversation on the modernization and digitization of libraries in India.
Jul 21, 2023
Navy Signs Agreement to Revive 2,000-Year-Old Shipbuilding Technique
The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy joined hands to revive and preserve a 2000-year-old technique of shipbuilding.
The technique is known as 'Tankai' method or the 'stitched shipbuilding method'.
Reviving and rejuvenating this fading art is crucial to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Uma Nanduri, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Priyanka Chandra, Director (AKAM), Ministry of Culture; and Rear Admiral K. S. Srinivas; Commodore Sujeet Bakshi; and Commander Sandeep Roy from the Indian Navy.
The Indian Navy will oversee the implementation and execution of the entire project. As custodians of maritime security and experts in the field, the Indian Navy's involvement ensures seamless project management and adherence to the highest standards of safety and precision.
The stitched ship holds significant cultural value in India, given its historical importance and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship.
Jul 20, 2023
U.S. Hands over 105 Antiquities to India Following Agreement
The United States handed over 105 trafficked antiquities to India.
The repatriation ceremony was held at the Indian Consulate in New York and the antiquities would soon be transported to India.
The restitution of the artefacts is a follow up of an agreement to the effect during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the U.S. in June 2023.
India and the U.S. also agreed to work for a Cultural Property Agreement that would help prevent illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts in future.
The 105 artefacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India – with 47 from eastern India, 27 from southern India, 22 from central India, 6 from northern India and 3 from western India.
Spanning a period from 2nd-3rd century CE to 18th-19th century CE, the artefacts are made of terracotta, stone, metal and wood. Around 50 of them have religious significance.
Jul 18, 2023
Chachin Grazing Festival Celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh
Chachin grazing festival was celebrated with great fervour by the local graziers of Tawang region near Bumla Pass, Arunachal Pradesh.
The two-day event held at Chachin saw enthusiastic participation from Graziers from all over the Tawang region.
Chachin and other traditional grazing areas, near Bumla Pass have historically served as the backbone of the local Monpa lifestyle that is largely dependent on nomadic herding, a primitive form of subsistence farming, as means of livelihood.
The festival featured a medical camp for aiding the local graziers who often live in remote locations without the medical facilities prevalent in urban areas.
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