Media Eye News Bureau: Celebrating the creative and cultural industries of Varanasi, the two day long Sanskriti Mahotsav organised by the Ministry of Culture “Ras Banaras – Swachhagrah – Bapu ko Kaaryaanjali” at Man Mandir and Assi Ghat began in Varanasi.
Integrating the tangible and intangible heritage along the river-belt different institutions/missions like the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Namami Ganga Jagriti Yatra, the academia, artists, artisans, writers, poets, environmental and cultural forums came together giving the cultural expressions to the conservation and protection of the river.
The 2-day event is focused on music and dance performances on the theme of ‘Swachhagraha’ presented under the rubric of ‘Swachhagraha: Bapu ko Karyanjali’. School-children affiliated to MoC’s Interpretation steered The Swachhta drive through exhibitions, songs, puppetry, nukkad nataks and folk dances.
The inaugural day witnessed a soulful performance by 5 year old Avantika Mishra, and a Swachhta Geet performed by children from the interpretation centres.
In the cultural performances the Mahotsav witnessed diverse genres of classical artists, contemporary Varanasi-centric ensembles and folk troupes offering the perfect blend of the historic and the contemporary. The duo of Pandit Narendra Mishra and Pandit Pooran Maharaj performed on Sitar and Tabla respectively while Sanjeev and Ashwini Shankar gave a mesmerizing performance on Shahnai, in the dance segment, Kathhak was performed by Saurav-Gaurav.
The closing ceremony will also see Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma along with Smt. Mridula Jaiswal, Mayor, Varanasi Municipal Corporation, Ravindra Jaiswal, MLA, Varanasi North, Dr. Neelkanth Tiwari, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Information, Sports Youth and Welfare, Saurabh Srivastav, MLA, Varanasi Cantt., Surendra Narayan Singh, MLA, Rohaniyan and Neel Ratan Singh Patel, MLA, Sevapuri gracing the occasion.
