Fashion Analyst &
Lifestyle Entrepreneur
The three-day Jangalmahal festival is being held at Mohorkuj from 23rd November till 25th November. The festival is being held each year to promote tribal art forms from the suburbs of Bengal.
The sixth edition of the festival will showcase various tribal dance forms like Nachni, Jhumur, Chhau nritya, Bahi, Bok nritya, Natua and many more by the locals of Jangalmahal area. You all must be knowing, that the forested areas like West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia are in famous as the Naxalite prone areas of Bengal.
The festival aims to make all the people aware of the various development measures that is being taken by the government. We are all the children of Jangalmahal, however we live in Kolkata for work. Jangalmahal has several art forms that can banish all kinds of treachery, thefts and other bad practices. The children of Jangalmahal have arranged this entire show fir the world to see. The festival is a result of the amalgamated efforts of the locals of Jangalmahal, said Priyabrata Bera, General Secretary of Jangal Mahal Udyog.
Various workshops, seminars and rallies are held at the festival. This year the Our honourable mayor Mr Firhad Hakim inaugurates the weekend fest. The show focuses on the upliftment of the tribals in the Maoist belts and provides them with global exposure. You will also get to see and buy various handicrafts and eatables.
Madhumita Sarangi Chakraborty, Central Co-ordinator of the fest, says that they have organised workshops for quite some time now and this is the third year here. We have started chauu nritya, mask-making, loko gaan, loko kabita and tal badya. Many cultural organizations have come together to teach the lost art forms like Bahi performed by Nachni. We have carried the Jangal out into Mohor Kunja. We are also arranging a rally, where various organizations have participated. We want to support the tribals financially as well. We have sourced all the information from hidden belts, by going there physically. The artists get opportunities to perform in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
We also managed to have a few words with Jyotsna Devi Mahato, Nachni Dancer from Kendri, Purulia She performs Bahi Nritya. She says, that she managed to learn the art form from her mentor Sindhubala Devi. She wants to take the lineage forward. She is a part of a group of 8, though only 4 members have managed to come to Kolkata for the show. She says that she loves to perform, as the only singer and dancer in a group of men, who play the harmonium and tabla. She earns by performing at marriage parties and local cultural events. One she dresses up, she is a different person altogether, with a charisma few have known.
The amazing Festival surely is a stepping stone for the artists towards a global community. Let us take the wonderful saga forward and let these oppressed individuals hold their heads high and get the recognition, they truly deserve.
