Will it be fun again?

Dec. 28: Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra will host a 17-day extravaganza to promote the rich cultural heritage of the region as well as usher in the New Year.

Art competitions, handicrafts fair, puppet shows, bhajan and ghazal evenings, piano recital, a festival of Tiwa community and folk music of the Northeast will be held from January 1 to 17.

An official said though the Kalakshetra has been organising the New Year programmes every year, this time, it’s bigger than the previous years. He said the cultural hub is making sure to arrange colourful functions of various tribes and communities of Assam and other states of the region.

“On the first day of the New Year, there will be art competition for children, handicrafts fair, muppet and puppet shows. A programme of Assamese modern songs will be the main attraction of the January 1 evening. Several prominent and popular singers have confirmed their participation in the function,” the official said.

The second day will start with ojapali and deodhani dance. Singers will perform tokari geet (a kind of folksong) and zikir on the evening of January 2.

The official said for those who love to listen to ghazals, they must visit the Kalakshetra on January 3. He said several famous singers including Anirban Das are expected to participate in the function. A bhajan programme will also be organised the same day.

On January 9, the Kalakshetra will organise Wanchyua Utsav, a festival of the Tiwa community.

The North East Poor Needy Women and Children Kalyan Parishad will present folk music of the region at the Kalakshetra on January 11.

Baayakhu Utsav, a Rabha festival, will be organised on January 12. Silpi Divas, the death anniversary of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, will be observed on the concluding day.