Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2018 in Tehri, Uttarakhand from 25th to 27th May, 2018

New Delhi: Ministry of Culture is organising the 9^th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav under the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, in Tehri, Uttarakhand from 25^th May to 27^th May, 2018. Tehri Lake Festival where one can explore the water sports, organized by the Uttarakhand Tourism every year, will be subsumed within the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav. This year the much-awaited 3 days water sports and cultural event is scheduled from 25th – 27th May 2018 at Tehri Lake, Uttarakhand. Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma in the presence of Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat will inaugurate the 9^th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav. Satpal Maharaj, Tourism Minister, Uttarakhand, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Member of Parliament, Tehri Garhwal and Dhan Singh Negi, MLA, Tehri will also be present at the inauguration on 25^th May, 2018 at Koti Colony, Near Tehri Lake, Tehri, Uttarakhand at 6:00 p.m.

The essential thrust of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) is to present rich diversity and uniqueness of Indian culture and to promote the cultural inter-linkages amongst the states to strengthen National integration and also to bid the artists of other parts of the country with the people of Uttarakhand in a single thread of culture. The Mahotsav was envisioned to preserve, promote and popularize the heritage and cultural diversity of Indian culture and reconnect the new generation with Indian culture. The gastronomic culture of several other states will also be showcased through a food festival. Chefs of traditional delicacies from different regions of the country will treat the visitors to an unparalleled culinary experience.

The paired state for Uttarakhand under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat matrix is Karnataka, and while troupes  from all over the country will be performing, special emphasis is being given to Karnataka.

The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav would showcase all the aspects of Indian Culture in different areas and aspects.  Artists from states like Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu Kashmir, Assam and Punjab will showcase India’s cultural heritage through performances of arts, Folk Music, Dance and cuisines. The stage will also provide a platform to local Tehri folk artists to showcase their talent. Artists of international level stature will mesmerize the audience during the festival. Some of the special performances that would be performed are

• Classical Singer Performance by Rashi Pant & Chirank Pant

· Nritya Natika on Veer Bhad Madho Singh Bhandari

· Dance Drama ‘based on Shiva’ by Padma Bhushan Saroja Vaidyanathan and her group

· Sound & Light Show – The Tehri Show at Lake Venue

· Singing Performance by Kusum Negi

· Musical Band Competition

· Performance of Bharat Natyam by Ms. Vani Raj Mohan

· Fusion: Fashion show by Ministry of Textile

· Bikers’ Rally

· Comedy Performance by Jhonny

· Master chef competition

· Performance of Kajri Dadra by Padma Shri Malini Awasthi

• Bollywood Night by Jubin Nautiyal

The North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala has been entrusted with the responsibility as the nodal agency to carry forward the execution of the National Cultural Festival under the banner of the slogan “EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT”.

The detail program schedule of the Mahotsav is as follows:

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav was conceived by the Ministry of Culture in the year 2015, when the Ministry decided to organize it with an intent to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Country in all its rich and varied dimensions, viz Handicrafts, Cuisine, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Documentation and Performing Arts-Folk, Tribal, Classical and Contemporary- all in one place.

So far, the Ministry of Culture has organized 8 RSM’s i.e. 2 in Delhi, 2 in Karnataka, 1 each in Varanasi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and RSM North East in all NE State capitals.

The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 31^st October, 2016 to promote engagement amongst the people of different states/UTs so as to enhance mutual understanding and bonding between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing stronger unity and integrity of India. The Uttarakhand edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav would be the 9^th edition in the series.