Adivasi Yuva
Sanskrutika Mela 2024
Adivasi Youth Cultural Festival 2024
1 June 2024, Saturday
A one day Adivasi Youth Cultural Festival was held in the premises of Sanskruti Kendra: Tribal Cultural and Research Center, Sankara Panaspara Sundargarh, Odisha on June 1, 2024 where about 250 youth and high school students from four parishes including Siabahal, Deorapara, Bagdihi and Sundargarh participated. The presence of the tribe Rajas (heads) of Oraon, Munda, Kisan and Kharia of Sundargarh and the Kharia Raja of Deorapara parish and a good number of ladies and gentlemen solemnized the program greatly.
Streams of participants, guests and dignitaries began arriving at the premises since 7.00 O Clock in the morning, and after their registration and breakfast they were ready for the solemn reception. The participants were solemnly received at the pandal with parghain (reception dance) and washing of hands by the youth of Rasraspur village. The festival flag was hoisted by the five Jait Rajas who were present on the occasion, after which the program commenced as per schedule.
The festival being a one-day affair, there were just five programs altogether apart from meals and common dance:
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Presentation of the Creation myth of Oraon, Munda and Kharia tribe
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Cultural dance competition between participant parishes
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Informative talks on a. Prominent tribal concerns of today, by Fr. Rasal Xess SVD, and b. Laws and Constitutional provisions on the Adivasis, by Fr. Ashok Kumar Minj, SVD
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Debate Competition on the topic: “Tribal Culture will disappear within ten years” (Yes or No)
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Quiz Competition based on the tribal myths presented and some general knowledge on tribal matters.
The Youth Cultural Festival was a great success, to say the least, and the youth and students and even the general public enjoyed it and benefited from it. Prizes were given out to the winners of the competitions by all the Jait Rajas and the eminent speakers of the day, and the program was ended with a beautiful cultural dance presented by Dongajor village.
The festival, of course, would in no way conclude without vibrant akhra dance, therefore after the meals, despite sweltering heat of the day, all participants danced to their hearts’ content the seasonal mandar dances inside the pandal. It was heartening to see the youth enjoying the seasonal Jethwari dance so much and not opting for the normal sailo dance, because it was indeed the purpose to introduce to the youth and students the richness of the seasonal dances so that they enjoy it and take pride on it.
To sum up, it can be said that the festival was great success as it succeeded in infusing in the minds of the youth and students an awareness that the tribal culture is not a shallow thing, rather it is rich in meaning and significance, and that it has a depth that sustains the tribal life with constant supply of unity and joy. By the post-festival reaction of the youth it was evident that they were wonder-struck by the depth of the Creation Myths about which they had no inkling at all. And, Sanskruti Kendra rejoices over the fact that it was able to give to the youth something substantial, and not just common talks, discussions and competitions.
Sanskruti Kendra plans to extend this festival to other centers too clubbing four-five nearby parishes together so that youth and students of those places too enjoy it and benefit from it.
Ignatius Soreng SVD
Director, Sanskruti Kendra
Sundargarh.
