It’s celebration time yet again as tribal communities gear up for the Mahotsav. Telegraph file picture

Ranchi, Oct. 23: Tribals are all set to revive an age-old tradition.

Long used to expressing their views through poetry, dance and music, tribals will now get back the charm of akharas, which, in olden days, served as a experimental place for tribals.

The occasion will be the three-day Tribal Mahotsav, which will provide the much-needed platform for tribals to showcase their art forms. The event will begin on December 14.

Youth affairs minister Bandhu Tirkey conceptualised the entire programme, said sources.

Nandlal Nayak, the director and convener of the festival, said that there was no appreciation for their art due to lack of resources.

“In every village earlier, there were akharas where people used to gather for entertainment. This was very much an integral part of their lives. But now this age-old tradition exists only in two or three places of the state,” Nayak said.

“As a result, we are going to revive the grand festival. After migration, this culture was wiped out and our youngsters failed to adopt the popular art form. There was no one to guide them. We do not blame youngsters as modernity overshadowed this art.”

The carnival is being organised for the first time in association with the state art, culture and youth affairs department.

“Glimpses of primitive culture of the state would be showcased by tribals mainly Oraons, Mundas, Santhalis, Korthas. They would depict their style of living,” Nayak said.

There will be around five lakh competing artistes in the event, the preparations for which have started on a massive scale.

“There are 16 teams who are visiting 24 districts of the state. From each block of the district, the folk artistes will be selected representing 33 kinds of tribal art,” Nayak said.

The event would also provide the much-needed platform to put up stalls of musical instruments, kitchen items and material used during the second marriage, birth and death. There would be also be a district-wise competition starting from November 2.

This will continue till November 26.

From one district, around 60-70 groups would compete for the competition in their traditional costumes and original form minus the adoption.