Artistes from Tripura perform at a function. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati/Agartala, June 4: Hojagiri will meet Bihu at a unique festival planned by Tripura culture minister Anil Sarkar, who finds a reflection of his state’s music and dance in Assam.

A poet himself, Sarkar is the prime mover behind this cultural programme to be held at Shilpgram over this weekend.

Not just Assam and Tripura, Bengal has also been sounded to send performers for what is slated to be a blending of folk cultures.

Tripura will send a 34-member team, including a hojagiri dance troupe of Reang tribesmen from Shantir Bazar in South Tripura and a Holi dance troupe from Nandan Nagar on the outskirts of Agartala.

There will also be three folk singers — Bishudeb Koloi, Shyam Namaand and Binita Reang — and an eight-member team of folk instrumentalists for dhol, flute, mridanga and chompreng.

Assam’s troupes will perform Bihu, Bodo, Karbi and Tiwa dances. Bengal artistes will perform baul and patar basi.

The two-day festival — named Brahmaputra-Barak-Ganga-Gomti Maitri and Matribhasha Utsav — will also have a conclave of poets from the three states, Tripura’s culture department commissioner N.C. Sinha said.

“Our purpose is to pave the way for resurgence of the rich folk cultural tradition of the region; we hope we will succeed in the venture,” he said.

The two-festival is being organised in collaboration with the Dimapur-based North East Zonal Cultural Centre and the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, based in Calcutta.

Sarkar was not available for comment but a close aide said the he was keen on highlighting the cultural and historical bonds between the three states and the people.

The 70-year-old minister, considered a pioneer in spearheading a literary and cultural movement not only in Tripura but also in the Northeast, will be present during the inaugural function on Saturday.

“The programme is designed to focus on the cultural tradition of the region which confronts a threat from globalisation,” the aide said.