**Summary: Promotion of Tribal and Folk Arts**
The Ministry of Culture, through the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), is actively engaged in the research, documentation, and promotion of India’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). As the nodal agency for ICH matters, the SNA documents diverse tribal and folk art forms for inclusion in the National Inventory of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
**Key Initiatives and Programs:**
* **Kala Deeksha:** A national training program initiated by the SNA to revive and sustain endangered traditional, folk, and tribal performing arts while providing livelihoods to artisans.
* **Global Dance Overture:** A collaborative project with the Kostroma Russian National Ballet. This recently included a Russian-Indian Folk Dance Cultural Exchange Workshop featuring demonstrations of Russian Ballet alongside Indian forms such as Bhangra, Bihu, Koli, and Gusadi.
* **Art Form Promotion:** The SNA frequently showcases forms like Gusadi Dance and Oggu Katha at national and international events, utilizing social media and digital channels for broader outreach.
**Administrative Information:**
* **Announcement Source:** Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
* **Date of Release:** March 19, 2026.
* **Release ID:** 2242379.
* **Visitor Counter:** 187.
* **Official Contact/Attribution:** M Annadurai, PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA): The nodal agency for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) matters that conducts research, documentation, and promotion of tribal and folk performing arts.
Kala Deeksha: A national training programme aimed at reviving and sustaining endangered traditional, folk, and tribal performing art forms and providing livelihoods to artisans.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH): The international inventory where the Sangeet Natak Akademi registers diverse Indian tribal and folk forms through its research and documentation efforts.
Ministry of Culture: The primary ministry responsible for the promotion of tribal and folk arts through its autonomous organizations and national initiatives.
Ministry of Culture
PROMOTION OF TRIBAL AND FOLK ARTS
Posted On: 19 MAR 2026 1:18PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Culture, through the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), an autonomous organization under this
Ministry and nodal agency for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) matters conducts research and
documentations for ICH elements including diverse tribal and folk forms and puts it up on the National
Inventory of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
The Sangeet Natak Akademi has frequently presented Gusadi Dance and Oggu Katha on various
occasions at National/International Events. Furthermore, the Akademi has initiated Kala Deeksha, a
national training programme aimed at reviving and sustaining endangered traditional, folk, and tribal
performing art forms and provide livelihoods to the artisans.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi undertakes various initiatives to present Indian performing arts at prominent
national and international platforms and promotes them through social media and digital channels.
Recently, under the Global Dance Overture project with the Kostroma Russian National Ballet, the
Akademi organized a Russian-Indian Folk Dance Cultural Exchange Workshop featuring
demonstrations of Russian Ballet, Bhangra, Bihu, Koli, and Gusadi dance forms which was witnessed by
the national and international audiences.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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M Annadurai
(Release ID: 2242379) Visitor Counter : 187
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