GANGTOK, : Ahead of Kuzu Cultural Festival scheduled for to be held from May 1 to 10, a Broadway-style show ‘Ekai Maato, Anek Rang’ was showcased at Manan Kendra here today.
‘Ekai Maato Anek Rang,’presented by the artistes from State Culture department, will be premiered for a larger audience during the Kuzu Cultural Festival at the main hall of Manan Kendra.
A depiction of harmonious Sikkim, the Broadway-style musical embodies the peaceful spirit of the state and showcases how the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities of Sikkim live together in harmony. The musical, performed by the singers, musicians, and dancers of the Culture Department, presents traditional folk songs of Sikkim within the theme of agricultural farming. All songs are performed live, without the use of pre-recorded audio, informed the organisers.
One of the main objectives of the musical is to revive the old folk songs and forgotten traditions of the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities. The songs are woven into a storyline that spans the cycle of a harvested crop, from sowing the seeds to the final harvest. The show also follows a parallel storyline of a married couple embarking on the journey of parenthood, from conception to the birth of their child. The offering of the harvest to the new-born child symbolizes a full-circle moment in human life, portraying the Earth as a nurturing mother who provides sustenance for daily life.
The storyline also highlights various welfare schemes and benefits related to motherhood in Sikkim, such as the Aama Sashakti karan Yojana, Aama Sahayog Yojana, Mero Rukh Mero Santati, and Vatsalya Yojana.
Organized by the Culture department to commemorate 50 years of Statehood, the Kuzu Cultural Festival serves as a platform to showcase Sikkim’s rich cultural heritage and traditions, bringing together 21 diverse ethnic communities in a spirit of unity and pride.
Through a wide array of events, including traditional music and dance performances, heritage walks, storytelling sessions, theatre productions, craft exhibitions, and a cultural carnival, the festival highlights the unique identity and harmonious coexistence of Sikkim’s people.
The festival not only commemorates a significant historical milestone but also fosters cultural exchange, intergenerational dialogue, and a renewed appreciation for the State’s vibrant legacy, informed the organisers.
The curtain raiser of the festival taking place at Manan Kendra on April 29will be attended by Chief Minister PS Golay.
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Festival Highlights
May 1
- KM Sufi Ensemble (from A.R. Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory)
A 20-member ensemble blending traditional Sufi soul with contemporary sounds.
May 1–10
- The Gangtok Heritage Walk
- Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route
- Sikkim Unveiled: Illustrated Exhibition
May 2–8
- Ekai Maato Anek Rang – Broadway-style Musical Show
May 2–5
- French Film Screenings by Alliance Française
Films: Alexandra David-Néel, The Mountain, Mystère, Belle & Sebastian
May 6–8
- American Film Screenings by American Center
(U.S. Embassy)
Films: Encanto, Matilda, Pursuit of Happyness
May 8–9
- Sikkim Literature Festival
Theme: “Stories: Past, Present and Future” - Literature & Arts Workshop by The Bombay Black Theatre
May 9
- Shankar – A play by National School of Drama