JKAACL organises maiden Cultural Bonanza at remote Duggan village in Bani Sub Division

KATHUA, September 24: The remote village Duggan of Bani on Sunday buzzed with festivities as Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art and Culture and Languages organised a day long cultural extravaganza at the annual Vasuki Nag Mela in picturesque landscapes of the Bani valley.

The occasion created a history as it was the maiden grand event organised ever in the remotest area of Kathua district.

Eminent Producer/Director & Filmmaker, Kulwant Singh Manhas was the Chief Guest, while Sub Divisional Magistrate, Satish Sharma was the guest of honour. DDC Member, Bani Reeta Thakur was the special guest.

At the very outset, SOCA Kathua, Sanjeev Gupta informed that JKACCL, under the mentorship of Secretary, Bharat Singh has been organising a host of events for the promotion of art and culture across the length & breadth of the Union Territory Jammu & Kashmir. One can easily find the representation of JKAACL in almost every event happening in J&K, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Kulwant Singh Manhas commended the efforts of the JKAACL artists for promoting  local folk art and culture in the picturesque Duggan village of Bani Valley. He further said such kind of initiatives always take the Culture to the next level of preservation. He advocated for organising more such events to revive the age old traditions, which are the identities of our culture. Such festivities play a major role in promoting communal harmony, brotherhood and community participation. I hope that JKAACL will continue to come up with such kind endeavours in Bani, he added.

Earlier, the programme started with the folk singing by seven different folk parties – Varinder Jotyan & Party; Darmaz Sandu & Party; Simu Thakur & Party; Ravi Kumar & Party; Madan Lal & Party; Ajeet Singh & Party and Bandhana Devi & Party who left everyone spellbound with their mesmerising singing.

This was followed by Kud Dance which is one of the most popular folk dances of Jammu and Kashmir. This dance is mainly performed to pay obeisance to the Lok Devtas by three Kud Parties viz. Kuldeep Singh & Party, Pankesh Kumar & Party & Bushan Singh & Party who made everyone awestruck with their powerful presentation skills.

The one day cultural event culminated with the power-packed performances of Goorain & Suhaag by Tripta Devi & Party, Dogri Folk Singing by Mela Ram & Party, Dogri Dance by M. R Chauhan & Party, Dogri Singing by Lekh Raj & Party, Folk Dance by Madan Mantoo, Folk Singing by Rajesh Parihar & Party and Dogri Singing by Paramjeet , Monika Devi and Party.

Earlier, Additional Secretary, JKAACL Sanjeev Rana shared the details of efforts being made by the academy for promotion and preservation of local art, culture and languages. He highlighted that this one day cultural programme is part of a series of events aimed at celebrating the rich heritage and culture of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly within the Samba & Kathua districts. The festival serves as a testimony to the Academy’s commitment to preserving and promoting the cultural diversity of the region.

SOCA Kathua, Sanjeev Gupta presented the vote of thanks.