Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh, a state rich in cultural and musical heritage, is all set to celebrate its foundation day (Uttar Pradesh Diwas) with a grand Sanskriti Utsav. The event, organized under the direction of CM Yogi Adityanath’s government, aims to identify, nurture, and showcase budding talent in arts and music. From January 2 to January 24, 2025, a series of competitions will be held across various levels—from tehsil to state—providing a platform for performers to shine. The state’s Department of Culture has released detailed guidelines for the event.
Promoting Uttar Pradesh’s Cultural Heritage Globally
The Sanskriti Utsav 2024-25 will run from January 2 to January 26, 2025, under the theme ‘Uttar Pradesh Parv: Hamari Sanskriti-Hamari Pehchaan’ (Our Culture, Our Identity). This initiative seeks to enrich the state’s cultural heritage and elevate its traditional arts to global prominence. The event will offer a platform to folk artists from villages, development blocks, tehsils, districts, and the state level to showcase their talents. Through competitions in classical, semi-classical, folk music, and other traditional art forms, the festival aims to preserve and promote cultural traditions while passing them on to the next generation.
Competitions and Their Timeline
The event schedule released by Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of the Culture Department, outlines a structured progression of contests:
- Tehsil Level Competitions: From January 2 to 5, 2025, involving artists from gram panchayats, development blocks, and tehsils.
- District Level Competitions: On January 7 and 8, 2025, featuring tehsil-level winners.
- Divisional Level Competitions: From January 10 to 12, 2025, with district-level winners competing.
- State-Level Competitions: From January 18 to 20, 2025, with divisional winners competing in Lucknow.
Final winners will rehearse on January 23, and the grand finale will take place on January 24, coinciding with Uttar Pradesh Parv. The winners will present their performances and receive accolades at the state-level event.
Range of Competitions
The Sanskriti Utsav will host an extensive array of contests across music, dance, and theatrical arts, including:
Vocal Music:
- Classical: Khayal, Dhrupad
- Semi-Classical: Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, Jhoola, Tappa
- Folk: Birha, Alha, Nirgun, Lokgeet, Qawwali
- Devotional and Patriotic Songs: Bhajans, Geet, Ghazals
Instrumental Music:
- Classical Instruments: Flute, Shehnai, Harmonium, Sitar, Violin, Tabla, Veena, Mridangam
- Folk Instruments: Dholak, Nagada, Duff, Chimta, Hudka
Dance:
- Classical Dances: Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Mohiniyattam
- Folk Dances: Ahirva, Karma, Dhobiya, Akhet
Theatre:
- Folk Dramas: Nautanki, Ramlila, Raslila
- Street Plays: Nukkad Natak
Bridging Tradition and Modernity
The Sanskriti Utsav focuses on bridging the gap between traditional and modern art forms while giving rural folk music and arts their due prominence. Winners at every level will be honored and awarded, ensuring recognition for their talent.
This celebration not only underscores Uttar Pradesh’s commitment to cultural preservation but also aligns with its vision of bringing the state’s unique heritage to global attention. Through events like these, Uttar Pradesh is taking firm steps toward becoming a hub for cultural excellence.
