Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) : The rich hues of tribal and folk culture of the state will be showcased come Christmas day, in  a national level event to be held at Bistupur in Jamshedpur.

Organised jointly by Calcutta-based Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), city-based NGO Kalamandir and Tata Steel, the All India Folk, Tribal and Craft Fair is slated from 25 to 27 December  at G- Town Ground in Bistupur. It will bring tribal and folk art from 15 states including Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Sikkim, Bengal and Jharkhand under one roof.

EZCC is an autonomous body under the Union ministry of culture. The festival in Jamshedpur is a part of its effort to promote tribal art forms across the country.

“EZCC works to promote folk art popular among the common masses. EZCC’s main aim is to develop and promote the rich diversity and uniqueness of various arts of the zone (eastern India) and to enrich consciousness of the people about their cultural heritage. We will have also have Raibenshe dance from Bengal, Bajashal dance from Odisha and Singhi Cham from Sikkim to name a few,” said Devla Murmu from Kalamandir.

The three-day event, like other similar events in the city, is expected to be a huge crowd-puller.

Organisers said they are also trying to hold a seminar to discuss various issues related to tribal art and culture.

Although the one-of-its-kind fair will have the curtains go up on its third version this year, it is for the first time that the steel city is hosting the event. In the past EZCC has organised Navodit, a programme promoting classical dance by young artistes.

  development, Jharkhand, tribes