North East Students Unleash their Rich-Vibrant Cultural Diversity
North East Students Unleash their Rich-Vibrant Cultural Diversity at Loyola Hall, St Aloysius PU College organized by North East People Association-Mangaluru on 12th of February.
Mangaluru: Indeed it was an evening of extravaganza which brought an amalgamation of formal performances, with the aim of showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the country’s North East. The aim of the North East People Association -Mangaluru (NEPAM)aim was to present to the people the true essence of unity and the richness of cultures through various eye-catching performances, from songs, dance and fashion show. The NE students from St Aloysius College, Alva’s College, Nitte and other unleashed their Rich and Vibrant Cultural Diversity in the form of music, dance and fashion. Truly a extravaganza and unique show with vibrant and bright colors of fashion made me simply color-blind. Kudos to all the performers for putting up a colorful show.
Who doesn’t love North East culture and diversity? The audience envisioned the music of the dhol, the tunes of Khasi, the beats of the drums, the historical saga of prominent tribes- And all this, as the audience gazed at pure bliss – the myriad forms of dances like Kabui, Arunachali, Zeiang Naga, Maitei, Mizo etc from North East India! There was sheer ‘culture and heritage’ during this NE cultural festival which emphasized the rich heritage of North East India. This ethnic extravaganza was an ideal platform to showcase the coveted classical and folk dance forms of Northeast India to the other world. Under the gaze of the cultural, social, traditional and ethnic show, the Northeast community strives to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony- and this is what the members of NEPAM exactly did by highlighting the traditions and culture through this extravaganza show.
The programme began with a prayer song by Mao group, followed by welcome address by Sr Diana. President of NEPA-Mangaluru Ms Kaini Cecilia briefed about the association and also about the culture, traditions and heritage of Northeast. “The purpose of today’s programme is to connect the unique way of life of north eastern people with the rest of the country, especially Mangaluru. North East is known for its diverse music, a richness of cultures, colours of traditions and the sweet melodies of folklores. I hope this cultural evening will also act as a catalyst to take up important issues associated with the region. Let us all live in unity without even thinking about race, color and creed.” said Kaini.
The chief guest of the evening, Capt Ganesh Karnik-MLC of Karnataka Legislative Council addressing the gathering said, ” India is a vast country of various cultures, diversity and traditions. And for that matter, Northeast region are vibrant and rich in cultural diversity. But sadly due to the invasion of the Western lifestyle, some of the cultures and traditions are vanishing. We need to make sure we keep our traditions and diversity intact. We should also look to live in unity and in harmony, and we should not indulge in any communal disharmony. There has been a lot of fights between caste, creed and color- we need to prevent them from happening. You have all come from your far Northeast hometowns to Mangaluru- when you go back take with you some good knowledge, talents etc that you learned from your reputed institution, and spread that knowledge and training that you got here among your people in your hometowns.”
St Aloysius College Rector Fr Dionysius Vas also speaking said, ” You Northeast folks are a role model for us in the form of your colors, diversity, culture and heritage. You have all come here to get the best education. Make sure you avail all the benefits that your institution has to offer. The Jesuit society has a very close relationship with Northeast region since they had started an institution years back. We the Jesuit priests at St Aloysius are always ready to help you whenever you need any assistance. Keep your culture rich and vibrant, and may God bless you all.” The programme was compered by Mark Iawbor and Kathe.
All those who attended this programme experienced the most vibrant, vivid and intense folk dance, songs, music and forms of Northeast India along with a documentary at the end of the even that emphasized the region’s rich culture and tradition! The cultural event came alive as it offered a feast for the eyes for the audience with different dance forms of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and surrounding areas. Moreover, the traditional showcase in the form of a fashion show and the documentary at the end further added to the rich heritage.
In conclusion, watching these performers is ought to reveal the age-old tradition, nuances and finesse, one always marvels at the sheer talent, the art of storytelling and the rich culture that is intrinsic to Northeast India. This marvelous cultural evening by NEPAM featured all of the prominent classical and folk dances from Northeast. Both budding and eminent bands and artists from across the Northeast showcased their rich, vibrant, cultural ethnicity and diversity through an array of music and dance performances. And if you were a connoisseur of art and culture, this Northeast Cultural Evening was a place to be!