As part of the on-going mega-Cultural event ‘Days of North-East Cultural Festival – Namaste Nepal’, an Art Exhibition showcasing diversity of the North-Eastern States of India launched on 14th January, 2017 is concluded today the 19th January, 2017.

To mark the closing ceremony of this Art Exhibition, the Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Kathmandu organized a brief ‘Talk Show’ on the North-East States of India coinciding with the North-East Food Fest titled “Banjyan:Flavours of North East States of India” at Hotel Radisson.

The event was jointly inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Urban Development Arjun Narasingh KC and Deputy Chief of Mission [DCM] Mr. Vinay Kumar, Embassy of India in Nepal. The event was attended by lawmakers, academician, scholars and representative from resident diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, Nepal.

N. Munish Singh, Regional Officer, Indian Council for Cultural Relations-Shillong, Meghalaya [India], apprised the august gathering about diverse cultures, traditions and livelihood of the North Eastern States of India viz, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Deputy Chief of Mission, Vinay Kumar, in his remarks, inter alia, stated that India and Nepal share a ‘special and privileged' relations which has stood the test of time. In the past six and a half decades, our relations have gained enormously in strength and content. Cultural cooperation has played a fundamental role in bringing people of our two nations closer.

The leading personalities in the field of literature, performing arts and related fields in both countries have left their indelible impressions on these relations. DCM Mr. Kumar added that beauty of our relations is more aptly characterized by our age-old people to people ties based on their fraternal, familial relations. Likewise, the depth of our unique friendship has, indeed, been possible due to warm and affectionate people to people relations. 

Indian dance, music, yoga is very popular in Nepal, not to mention the enduring interest in Bollywood films. The organization of regular and reciprocal cultural events has also achieved memorable results in the past. In the backdrop of these immense love, affection and encouragements from the Nepali people, the ‘Days of North-East Cultural Festival-Namaste Nepal’ has been planned in two phases viz. (i) Art Exhibition and (ii) Cultural performances.

This  marks the successful culmination of the first phase of this mega event, and from tomorrow onwards four prominent cultural troupes representing different genres from the North-Eastern States of India viz. (a) Shillong Chamber Choir; (b) Tetseo Sisters; (c) Thoibi Manipuri Dance & Cultural Institute and (d) Lily Veng Cultural & Drama Club would perform in nine different venues in Nepal along side their counterparts from Nepal viz, Kathmandu, Patan, Pokhara, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Dharan, Janakpur, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha.  Singular objective of this mega-cultural events is to provide cultural glimpses of North East States of India and also to learn about diverse Nepali cultures.

Lastly, DCM Kumar expressed optimism that this mega-cultural event shall also set the tone for the rest of the year and for the many programmes that have been planned. He expressed deepest appreciation to the Government of Nepal and other local partners for their support in organizing the celebrations.

In addition to this, Cultural Performance by the artists of Lily Veng Cultural & Drama Club from Mizoram State of North-East India and Ethnic cultural performance by Jyapu Samaj and Akshewar Mahabihar would be held at Patan Durbar Square (Mangal Bazaar on Friday, 20th Jan, 2017, 4:30 pm onwards.

Cultural performance by the artists of Thoibi Manipuri Dance & Cultural Research Institute from Manipur and ethnic cultural performance by the artist of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, GoN, would be held at Rastriya Sabha Griha, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on 21st Jan. 2017, 6:00 pm onwards.

Cultural performance by Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland and Shree Tara Band from Nepal (3 ladies) would be performing at Nepal Army Auditorium, Sundhara, Kathmandu on 22nd Jan. 2017.

Similarly, Shillong Chamber Choir from Meghalaya, India and Surendra (Sur Sudha) with Saraswoti from Nepal would perform at Nepal Army Auditorium, Sundhara, Kathmandu on 24th Jan. 2017.