Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ (National Tribal Festival), a joint initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, & Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), is all set for a colourful start on August 17, 2019, at Polo Ground, Leh-Ladakh.
The 9 day event from August 17 to August 25, 2019, will be inaugurated by Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik, at 6pm on August 17, 2019, in the presence of Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs ;Renuka Singh, Minister for State for Tribal Affairs, and R C Meena, Chairman, TRIFED. The theme of the festival is : “A celebration of the spirit of Tribal Craft, Culture and Commerce”. TRIFED essentially is to play the role of a ‘Service provider’ & ‘Market Developer.’
The event will see around 160 Tribal artisans from more than 20 states across the country actively participating and showcasing their masterpieces. The product range will comprise Tribal Textiles from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal; Tribal Jewellery from Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and North East; Tribal Paintings like Gond art from Madhya Pradesh, Warli art from Maharashtra; Metal craft from Chhattisgarh; Black pottery from Manipur, and Naturals and Organic products from Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
The event will have two reputed local cultural troupes presenting Ladakhi folk dances. The troupes will perform Jabro Dance, a nomadic dance and song of people inhabiting eastern Ladakh, and Spawo dance, a heroic song and dance associated with a legendary hero of Himalayan region called K’sar. Other dance performances like Flower Dance, Abex Dance/song, Ghazal Dance, Aleyyatoo will regale the visitors.
Mahotsav will also identify:(a) Food and Forest Produces, which can be processed, value added and marketed under the Van Dhan Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs ; and (b) Artisans and master craftsmen and women of Ladakh for empanelling them as suppliers of TRIBES India. These products can then be marketed all over the Country through the 104 retail outlets run by TRIBES India across the country and 190 countries across the world through AMAZON, with whom TRIBES India has an agreement. The tribes constitute over 8% of the country’s population, according to a PIB release.
The tribal textiles manufactured by Master tribal Craftsmen from Jammu & Kashmir in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South and from Gujarat in the West to Nagaland/Sikkim in the East will win people’s heart. The Traditional tribal jewellery, bamboo cane also promise to be the items of attraction. The Tribal handicrafts would be sold through 70-100 Stalls under the Tribes Banner by tribal Artisans.
In line with the national aspiration to go cashless, for the first time the tribal artisans will be accepting payment through major credit/debit cards for which Point of Sale (POS) machines have been provided in each stall. A special training has been conducted by State Bank of India for smooth operations of this. The Mahotsav will display the rich digital commerce and e-commerce being promoted by Tribes India.