JAMMU: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Regional Office, J&K and Ladakh hosted a special mega cultural event on “Dogri Folk Theatre and Musical show, “Tarunuday” at Sher-i-Kashmiri University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Jammu (SKUAST-J).
The cultural event started with lighting of ceremonial lamp by the chief guest, DGP Dilbag Singh, guest of honour, JP Sharma (VC, SKUAST-J), Regional Director ICCR N K Shil and other dignitaries. The young promising artists from Guidance and Counselling Cell for Youth Development (GCCYD), Gurha Slathia, Samba, brilliantly performed on the stage and showcased their skills and talents before the jam-packed audience. Forty odd performers superbly sang, danced and acted to express their unbridled exuberance and joy. The youth group exhibited J&K’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, rituals, customs and problem of present-day social challenges like abuse of drug and plastic use, etc, thus acquainting the young generations with their glorious past. Presenting the welcome address, N K Shil elaborated on the need of augmenting India’s cultural diplomacy through exchange of local cultural troupes, students and other educational and cultural initiatives by way of showcasing greater Indian rich heritage and multifarious culture abroad.
He said that since its beginning in July 2012, ICCR has successfully conducted 111 such cultural programmes and 14 international exchange programmes with an objective to help promote cultural diplomacy and goodwill with other nations. Speaking on the occasion, DGP Dilbag Singh hoped that such efforts would not only help promote local culture and heritage but also develop and strengthen inter-cultural bond, enhance mutual understanding and harmonious relationships among diverse section of the society and provide opportunities to the budding local talent to showcase their skills. VC SKUAST-J also stressed on the necessity for mutual interaction among the diverse section of the society through more and more student and educational exchanges between J&K of India with other nations to know each other’s perspective better and promote friendship and goodwill.
Other dignitaries present were Mukesh Singh (ADGP Jammu), Shridhar Patil (SSP Jammu) and ICCR foreign students etc.
