Dehradun, August 28 (H.S.): The four-day ‘Vande Mataram-150 Years’ folk and tribal art workshop, exhibition and painting competition concluded here on Friday. The event was jointly organised by the North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Prayagraj, Ministry of Culture and Graphic Era Hill University. Around 50 artists participated in the programme, showcasing diverse forms of Indian folk and tribal art.

Chief guest Padma Shri folk singer Dr Madhuri Barthwal said painting was not merely an art form but a form of artistic practice and devotion. She said folk art inspires people to remain connected with nature and their roots. Art also develops sensitivity, positive thinking and a sense of responsibility towards society, she added.

Special guest and theatre artist Dr Rakesh Bhatt said folk language, folk music and folk art are the soul of society. He said young people must come forward to preserve them. The younger generation needs to understand its traditional art and culture and play an active role in carrying it forward so that folk heritage can be preserved for future generations.

Graphic Era Hill University Registrar Dr Chhabra said the programme, organised in collaboration with NCZCC, provided students, art enthusiasts and the general public an opportunity to understand the diversity of Indian folk and tribal art more closely.

Programme coordinator Dr Krishna Kumar said the workshop aimed to preserve folk and tribal art traditions while connecting the younger generation with its cultural roots. Artists from different regions created paintings and other artworks in their respective styles and also got an opportunity to learn about one another’s artistic traditions and techniques.

In the painting competition, artists depicted themes related to Indian cultural heritage, nature, folk life, the motherland and Indian values through their works. Vishakha Gunjyal, Manvi Salathia, Meera Chauhan, Aarushi Semwal and Hardeep Kaur were selected among the top five artists. Each winner received a cash prize of Rs 25,000. Every participating artist was also given an honorarium of Rs 2,100 by NCZCC.

Dr Krishna Kumar said the programme was organised under the guidance of NCZCC Prayagraj Director Sudesh Sharma. Dr Alok Tirth Bhaumik and Neelam Jayala participated as subject experts, while Dr Anjali Thapa and Dr Shashi Jha were part of the jury.

Nodal officer Dr Mandakini Sharma said the event was an important initiative towards preserving traditional art forms and encouraging young artists. Prof Anand Karmakar, head of the university’s Fine Arts Department, along with teachers, research scholars, students and art enthusiasts, attended the programme.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar