Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture addressed a parliamentary question regarding the inclusion of local art forms in national cultural festivals. The response outlines the inclusion of tribal art from Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao in festivals organized by Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs), the criteria for selecting regional art forms for national and international representation, and plans to promote tribal artists through ZCCs and digital platforms. The ministry has organized various festivals engaging folk and tribal artists.
Key Points / Main Content:
Inclusion of Tribal Art Forms:
* Traditional music, dance, and crafts of tribal communities from Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao have been included in national and regional cultural festivals organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC).
* Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao have been identified for focused promotion under NEZCC’s initiatives to revive vanishing art forms.
Selection Criteria for Art Forms:
* National Platforms: Selection is based on cultural uniqueness, authenticity, and traditional value, with special attention to rare and endangered art forms. Local scholars and cultural experts assist in identifying genuine artists.
* International Platforms: Indian Missions abroad select art forms for the Festival of India, considering recent cultural events and aiming to broaden the projection of Indian culture. Missions select a theme (e.g., dance, music, theatre) and propose cultural troupes to the Ministry of Culture.
Promotion of Tribal Artists:
* Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) have been established to promote folk art and culture, including tribal culture.
* ZCCs organize cultural activities engaging folk and tribal artists.
* The Ministry of Culture organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at the national level through ZCCs.
* The Ministry of Culture participated in Republic Day Celebrations through cultural programs like Vande Bharatam Dance Event.
* Events like Madhavpur Ghed Fair and Octave festival promote tribal artists from the North East Region.
* Artists participating in these programs are provided with honorariums, travel allowances, boarding, lodging, and local transport.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Culture:
* Impact: Responsible for organizing and supporting cultural events and festivals, promoting regional and tribal art forms, and coordinating with Zonal Cultural Centres and Indian Missions abroad.
* Action Required: Continue to organize and support cultural events, identify and promote regional art forms, and coordinate with ZCCs and Indian Missions to ensure representation of diverse art forms.
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):
* Impact: Responsible for organizing cultural activities and engaging folk and tribal artists in their respective zones.
* Action Required: Plan and execute cultural events, identify and engage local artists, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture to promote regional art forms.
Indian Missions Abroad:
* Impact: Responsible for selecting art forms for international representation and organizing cultural events abroad.
* Action Required: Select themes for cultural events, propose cultural troupes to the Ministry of Culture, and organize events to promote Indian culture abroad.
Folk and Tribal Artists:
* Impact: Provided with platforms to showcase their talents, promote their art forms, and earn their livelihood.
* Action Required: Participate in cultural events organized by ZCCs and other organizations, showcase their art forms, and engage with audiences to promote their cultural heritage.
Key Entities Referenced
Karbi Anglong: A district in the state of Assam, India, known for its tribal communities and distinct culture.
Dima Hasao: A district in the state of Assam, India, known for its tribal communities and distinct culture.
North East Zone Cultural Centre NEZCC, Dimapur: An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture that promotes and preserves the cultural heritage of the North Eastern states of India.
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre EZCC, Kolkata: An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture that promotes and preserves the cultural heritage of the Eastern states of India.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav: A national-level cultural festival organized by the Ministry of Culture to showcase the diverse art and culture of India.
Festival of India: A series of cultural events organized by Indian Missions abroad to promote Indian culture internationally.
Zonal Cultural Centres ZCCs: Seven regional cultural centers established by the Government of India to promote and preserve folk and tribal arts and culture throughout the country.
Madhavpur Ghed Fair: An annual fair held in Gujarat, India, that celebrates the cultural and historical connection between Gujarat and the North Eastern States of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2523
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
INCLUSION OF LOCAL ART FORMS IN NATIONAL CULTURAL FESTIVALS
2523. SHRI AMARSING TISSO:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether traditional music, dance and crafts of tribal communities from Karbi Anglong
and Dima Hasao have been included in any national-level cultural festivals organised by
the Government;
(b) the criteria used for selecting regional art forms for representation at national and
international platforms; and
(c) whether the Government has any plans to promote tribal artists through zonal cultural
centres or digital platforms?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Yes, Sir. Traditional music, dance and crafts of tribal communities from Karbi
Anglong and Dima Hasao have been included in national & regional level cultural festivals
organised by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur (an autonomous
organization under Ministry of Culture).
Local artists and craftpersons from these regions have participated in community
cultural programmes and craft exhibitions organized by NEZCC. Further, Karbi Anglong and
Dima Hasao have also been identified for focused promotion under NEZCC’s special
initiatives for reviving vanishing art forms for promotion and preservation of their unique
heritage through festivals and dedicated projects.
Moreover, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata (an autonomous
organization under Ministry of Culture) has also included traditional music, dance and crafts
of tribal communities from Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao through its programmes such as
Octave, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav &Purbanchaliya Lok Mahotsav.
(b) For representation at national platforms, various regional art forms are chosen which
are based on its cultural uniqueness, authenticity and traditional value. Special attention is
given to rare, endangered and lesser known art forms. Local scholars, community elders and
cultural experts assist in identifying genuine artists and groups.
For representation at international platforms, the Indian Missions abroad decide the
art form for inclusion in Festival of India keeping in mind the recent cultural events held in
their countries with the view to broad-base the projection of Indian culture. At the first
instance, the Indian Missions select a theme on which the cultural event has to be organized
from the following:
i. Dance (classical and traditional, modern experimental/ contemporary, folk,
fusion etc.)ii. Music vocal (classical, semi-classical, modern carnatic etc.)
iii. Music Instrumental
iv. Theatre
v. Folk arts like Rangoli, puppetry etc.
vi. Exhibitions
vii. Literary Festival
viii. Food Festival
ix. Film Festival
x. Yoga
xi. Fashion Show/Textile Exhibition
After selection of the theme, a proposal is sent by Indian Missions abroad to Ministry
of Culture to send cultural troupes as per the selected theme/ art form of the event.
Accordingly, Ministry of Culture sends various groups who are experts in their respective art
form to the Indian Missions abroad.
(c) To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art & culture including tribal
culture throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural
Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur
and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular
basis in their member States for which they engage folk/tribal artists.
Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at national
level through these ZCCs where a large number of folk & tribal artists from all over India are
engaged to showcase their talents. From November, 2015 onwards, fourteen (14) RSMs and
four (04) Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture up till now in the
country.
Ministry of Culture participated in Republic Day Celebrations from 2022 to 2025
through cultural programmes like Vande Bharatam Dance Event & Jayati Jai Mamah
Bharatam. 485, 479 & 1500 folk/ tribal artists participated during 2022, 2023 & 2024
respectively. In 2025, as a tribute to 150th Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, over
5000 folk and tribal artists represented youth power, artistic heritage and Nari Shakti drawn
from the length and breadth of India represented the varied tapestry of culture and diversity
of India's heritage.
MadhavpurGhed Fair 2022 to 2025 was organized in Gujarat. The fair was an
epitome of the deep cultural and historical relationship that western State of Gujarat shares
with the North-Eastern States. The cultural inputs for the event were facilitated by NEZCC.
120 tribal artists in 2022, 239 tribal artists in 2023, 45 tribal artists in 2024 & 800 tribal
artists in 2025 from North East Region have participated.
Octave - a festival of the North East which is organized by all seven Zonal Cultural
Centres to promote folk culture of the North Eastern States by way of providing an exclusive
platform to the tribal artists and artisans of NE Region to promote and propagate their rich
cultural heritage.
It is stated that in all these programmes, artists are paid honorarium, TA/DA,
boarding & lodging, local transport etc. to enable them to earn their livelihood.
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