INDIA: The Minister of State of Culture and Tourism, India, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel recently informed Indian Parliament, that in the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur to protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk art and ancient folk cultures throughout the country including Jharkhand, Bihar and Kerala.
Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Jharkhand are Faguwa Nritya, Turi Nritya, Paika Nritya, Hodopathy, Tribal dance (Karam Nritya), and ancient folk cultures being preserved in Bihar are Lok Gatha “Reshma Chuharmal” (Begusarai), Lok Gatha “Bihula Bishari” (Purnia), Lok Gatha “Naradi” (Begusarai), Bidesia Lok Natya (Bhojpur region), Godana Painting (Madhubani), Lok Natya “Hirni-Birni” (Magadh region), Panwaria, Domkach and Sohar Khilona folk dance in all regions of Bihar, Domkach folk dance, Jharni & Jhinjhia folk dance (Mithilanchal Area), Bidesia (Bhojpur Area), Bihar Ke Paramparik Natya (All regions of Bihar State), Drupad Dhamar, Godna Geet, Sikki Kala, Tikuli Art and Madhubani Painting.
Also, plans are to preserve in Kerala ancient folk cultures, like Poorakali, Malayankettu & Kannerpattu (Kannur), Daffumuttu (Malabar), Kanyarkali (Thrissur) and Arabanaumuttu (Kozhikode). Ancient folk cultures being conserved in Gujarat are Daang tribals (Daang), Rathwa & Mewasi tribals (Baroda), Vasava tribals (Rajpipla); Siddhi Dhamal (Bharuch & Surat), Mer Ras (Porbander), Dhal Thalwar dance (Rajkot), Beda Ras (Jamnagar), Kutchi bhajans and dances (Kutch), Kervano Vesh (Ahmedabad) and Raas Garba all over Gujarat.
There is no dedicated scheme to preserve these particular folk art forms. However, the ZCCs organise various cultural activities and programmes all over the country on regular basis for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them.
In this regard, a number of schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artists, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre Rejuvenation, Research & Documentation, Shilpgram, OCTAVE and National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP) are being implemented by these ZCCs.
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