GUWAHATI, March 23 � In keeping with the silver jubilee celebrations of Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) of the country, the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) is organising a mega Northeast-centric carnival in Jorhat tomorrow. With more than 250 artistes participating, the festival will showcase the biggest ensemble of folk dances, folk music, craftsmen, choral singers, tribal folk musicologists and others who will present the best of regional dance, music, culture, et al.
The North East Spring Festival will be inaugurated in the presence of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Cultural Minister Pranati Phukan, NEZCC Chairman and Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar and a host of other luminaries at the Jorhat Court Field tomorrow.
From the rhythmic steps of the Nunu Pipi dance of the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh to the mesmerising Cheraw of Mizoram, and the fierce display of warrior skills of the Thang-ta and Maibang dances to the graceful moves of Wangala dancers � this festival will reflect the best of the culture from each North-eastern State. A 60-member troupe from the other Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) will also be participating in the festival, which also has performances by premier experimental musicians Guru Rewben Mashangva of Manipur and Naad Brahma from Assam lined up.
The decision to host the Spring Festival in Jorhat was made following the tremendous success that the NEZCC's premier Octave festival received in other parts of the country and also in keeping with the mandate of the cultural centre. NEZCC Director Som Kamei said, �Our centre annually organises a showcased event, Octave in different parts of the country to highlight the rich cultural heritage and art-forms of the region. Following the tremendous success of the festival in other parts of the country, there have been demands within the region itself for such festivals wherein we introduce people in second-tier cities with the richness and diversity of our culture. With 2012 being the silver jubilee year of the ZCCs of the country, Jorhat, with its rich cultural heritage, was undoubtedly our first choice for the festival.�
The North East Spring Festival seeks to place lesser known art forms like Khupilile of the Pochury tribe of Nagaland and Ghantu dance of Sikkim on the same platform as much more established folk dance forms like Bihu of Assam and Dhol Pung of Manipur, informed Kamei.
The entire festival will be choreographed by internationally
