Govt to showcase Punjabi culture through 3-day program
NEW DELHI: In a bid to promote and reach out to the Punjabi community of Delhi, the Delhi government to arrange Punjabi Heritage Mela in Delhi. "The infectious warmth, richness and depth of Punjabi music and culture is an inherent part of our heritage. We are proud to present the Punjabi Heritage Mela in Central Park. I am sure the joy and energy created through art and music will bring will unite the hearts of the audience in Delhi," said Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.
"In a first, the Delhi government moves Punjabi Heritage Festival to Central Park. The three-day festival organised by Punjabi Academy is aimed at promoting Punjabi Art, Literate, Culture and Music. The festival will feature a range of programmes," said an official. The programs will take place at Central Park, Connaught Place from 1 to 9 pm daily. Satender Sartaj (13 Dec), Kanwar Garwal (14 Dec), and Nooran Sisters (15 Dec) would be some of the artists of the program.
Deputy CM Sisodia who took over the portfolio of Art and Culture department last year aimed at the inclusiveness of the art and culture. Delhi, the capital of India has always been cosmopolitan in terms of culture however the government cultural festivals have been around the elitist Lutyens' Delhi circle and failed to look into the inclusive plurality of the regional culteral heritage present in Delhi. "To break the cultural hegemony which was present in Delhi, the government planned to reach out to the larger audience. We do not want to follow any top-down approach but to focus on the inclusiveness of culture which is very much own," said an official.
Delhi has a long cultural heritage of the Punjabis as historians say that Delhi was a part of Punjab Empire before independence. At the time of independence, many Punjabis left their home(now Pakistan) and came to the other side of Punjab. Delhi was on the border of Punjab. So, the population naturally grew and almost doubled. There are many folk music and dances which are hugely popular in Punjab and the rest of the country. One of them is Bhangra which has also become immensely popular in the west. This dance form began many years ago when Punjabi farmers used to perform to welcome the harvest season. Giddha and Sammi, Luddhi and Dhamal are some other popular dances in the region. Punjabi music has become popular in Bollywood too. Punjabis are known for their revelry and music forms an essential part of it.
