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.
BOX
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
