The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Clock Tower Square, Thimphu, saw a huge crowd turnout for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) cultural festival, organized by the SAARC Cultural Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on April 8.
The 3-day cultural festival, which ended yesterday, had on display some of the best folk dances from countries in the region. It highlighted the true expression of the culture of the people, telling story and tracing back the roots of the eight SAARC countries.
The festival also displayed folk tunes from the region, and included side fringe events, such as an exhibition of folkdances and folk instruments of the region.
“The festival, I am sure, will create a forum to the folk dance critics and enthusiasts in the region to better appreciate and experience unique culture tapestry of the SAARC region,” the Home Minister, Damchoe Dorji. said.
He added that the calm and serene Himalayan ambience during spring time provides a befitting background in displaying the richness and diversities of SAARC folk dances.
SAARC Cultural Centre is a regional centre set up to promote cultural cooperation in order to bring the people of South Asia and closer and to project the distinct identity of South Asia. The centre points out that seeing and participating in cultural festival is the best way in experiencing culture, traditions, life and people, and to promote cultural cooperation and development. “Culture, rich in tradition and diverse in nature, brings together the peoples of nations, in an exchange of art that has no barriers.”
On day one, musicians and dancers from member countries in colourful attires walked on the stage, followed by folk dances. The rest of the days also saw similar performance by dancers and musicians. They also held workshops presenting the different folk dances and in general folk music in the SAARC states.
The closing day had on the unique fusion performance by all member countries. Experienced folk dancers, learned dance critics and researchers from the SAARC region took part in the event.
The centre intends to function as a major meeting point for the artistic communities of the member countries catering all forms of arts, such as dance, music, drama, theatre, puppetry and folk culture and visual art, like painting, sculpture, film making and photography as well as literature
