Lucknow: The two-day Lok Vimarsh event, organized by the Lok Sanskriti Shodh Sansthan at the UP Mahotsav Mela grounds in Aliganj, concluded with in-depth discussions on Awadhi and Bhojpuri folk literature and culture. The final day of the event also saw the felicitation of 11 distinguished individuals for their significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of folk traditions.
The day began with thought-provoking discussions by prominent scholars, including Dr. Ram Bahadur Mishra, Professor Chandreshwar, Professor Ajeet Priyadarshi, Dr. Shashank Singh, Dr. Ashok Agnyani, and Nagendra Bahadur Singh, who elaborated on the cultural richness of Awadhi and Bhojpuri folk traditions. These discussions highlighted the timeless relevance of these languages and their vital role in shaping regional identity and heritage.
During the event, 11 individuals were honored with prestigious Lok Sanskriti Samman for their outstanding contributions to folk culture. Among the honorees was Professor Kailash Devi Singh, the retired Head of the Hindi Department at Lucknow University. The awards ceremony was graced by the presence of Padma Shri Dr. Vidyavindu Singh and Vimal Pant, who also shared their insights on the significance of preserving regional folk arts. The ceremony was managed by Archana Gupta, in charge of Lok Chaupal, and was accompanied by cultural performances at Sangeet Bhawan.
The cultural segment of the event featured several noteworthy performances. Under the direction of Soumya Goyal, devotional bhajans such as “Payojii Maine Ram Ratan Payo,” “Aali Ree Mere Nainan Baan Pari,” and “Hari Tum Haro Jan Ki Bheer” were presented, captivating the audience with their spiritual energy. The event also saw a lively Dandiya dance performance, organized by Suman Mishra, featuring participants like Mihika, Avika, Atharv, Adrika, Avyukta, Karnika, Sanskriti, and Shriya, adding a festive flair to the evening.
The concluding day of the Lok Vimarsh emphasized the importance of reviving folk traditions and languages, such as Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Bundeli, Kumaoni, and Kannauji, to ensure that they thrive for generations to come. The deliberations over the past two days have been instrumental in generating key suggestions, which the Sansthan plans to incorporate into future action plans aimed at furthering the preservation and propagation of these folk traditions.
The following individuals were honored for their exceptional contributions:
- Ratna Shukla – Professor Kamla Srivastava Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Vineet Sinha – Padma Shri Dr. Yogesh Praveen Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Geeta Shukla – Aarti Pandey Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Uma Trigunayat – Prabha Srivastava Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Jyoti Kiran Ratan – Shobha Devi Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Manju Srivastava – Ramavati Devi Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Seema Agarwal – Savitri Devi Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Dr. Anil Mishra – J.P. Lambodhar Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Sarvesh Mathur – Sitaram Tiwari Smriti Lok Sanskriti Samman
- Professor Kailash Devi Singh – Padma Shri Dr. Vidyavindu Singh Lok Sanskriti Dhvajwahi Samman
- Saurabh Kamal – Dr. Ram Bahadur Misir Lok Sanskriti Dhvajwahi Samman
The closing session not only celebrated the contributions of these revered personalities but also served as a call to action for revitalizing India’s rich folk heritage. With the Sansthan’s commitment to carrying forward the suggestions generated during the event, there is renewed hope for the continued flourishing of these invaluable traditions in the years ahead.
