Dancers from the Tiwa tribe perform at a function. File picture

Guwahati, Oct. 4: The stage is set for a three-day ethnic festival — Aikyatan — at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here from October 9 with the objective of showcasing the life and culture of the different tribes of Assam.

Organised by the directorate of cultural affairs, the thrust of the festival is to give necessary exposure to the rich culture of the plain tribes and the art forms like dance, music, arts, food and dress of their respective communities.

The focus will be on leading tribes like Bodo, Mising, Rabha, Tiwa, Deori, Hajong, Pati Rabha, Sonowal Kachari, Adivasi and Karbi.

Cultural affairs minister Bharat Narah today appealed to the public to make the festival a success.

Hinting that the festival could become an annual event if it receives a good response, Narah said he was planning to host such a festival outside the state as well.

Cultural affairs secretary Swapnanil Baruah said though the tribes of the state were distinct in terms of their lifestyles, culture and attire, there was a link that bound them together.

The festival aims at projecting the unity in diversity that exists in the state and hopes it can one day become a major tourist attraction.

Nearly 500 participants are expected to be part of the festival. Invitations have also been sent to the Northeast Zonal Cultural Centre and the East Zone Cultural Centre.

“This is the first time that we are organising a function of this nature on such a scale... in a centralised form. We have also invited the secretary of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and vice-president of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi will also attend the inaugural function as chief guest,” Sankar Prosad Kakoti Bora, director of cultural affairs, said.

The festival will get under way with Narah flagging off a cultural procession from Dispur parade ground to Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra at 9.30am, followed by an exhibition on tribal art, culture and craft, to be inaugurated by agriculture minister Pramila Rani Brahma at 11.30am.

In the afternoon, there will be a seminar and screening of films on tribes of Assam followed by the formal inauguration by chief minister Gogoi.

“The cultural programmes will showcase music and dance of different ethnic groups as well as performances of artistes invited from other states like Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and the northeastern states,” Bora added.