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 Festival of Performing Arts: Honouring eminent artistes of India - Nainika Mukherjee e-mail: punarjjaniculturalcentre@gmail.com Photos courtesy: Sangeet Natak Akademi photo album February 27, 2023 Sangeet Natak Akademi has organised a week-long 'Festival of Performing Arts' for Akademi Ratna (fellowship) holders and Akademi awardees from 23rd February to 2nd March 2023 at Meghdoot Auditoriums 1 and 3, New Delhi, followed by more performances at the Central Vista on 4th and 5th March 2023. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the awards on137 artists (9 fellowship holders who received the Akademi Ratna and 128 awardees of the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards) who have contributed immensely and unconditionally to their respective fields, in a special investiture ceremony on 23rd February 2023 at the Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi from 11am onwards. Alongside the President, other eminent figures, namely Dr Sandhya Purecha (chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi), G. Kishan Reddy (Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region), and Arjun Ram Meghwal (Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs & Culture) graced the occasion with their presence and powerful words.  The investiture ceremony commenced with Dr Purecha's speech. She first addressed how the Akademi selected, decided, announced and felicitated the awardees of three years -- 2019, 2020, and 2021 -- in just four days to update and boost the activities of the Akademi, followed by her salutations and gratitude to the President for conferring on all artists in the ceremony. She further mentioned, "Sangeet Natak Akademi is the country's first and top-most institution in the field of performing arts. The work of the Akademi is expansive. Along with providing protection and promotion to the diverse cultural expressions of the country, the Akademi is also responsible for protecting the same cultural expressions from extinction. The cultural expressions we refer to, exist in the country as various performing arts. This cultural expression is intangible. To preserve the intangible things, one must carry their tradition from one generation to another. The new generation should partake in these art forms and connect them with their life and employment. They must realise the importance of this intangible cultural heritage while Akademi continues to awaken this awareness." Following her speech, Dr. Purecha welcomed the President Droupadi Murmu, G. Kishan Reddy, and Arjun Ram Meghwal with three pieces of artwork and the event proceeded with the President felicitating and conferring all Akademi Ratna holders and Akademi awardees. Towards the end of the investiture ceremony, the President started her speech by congratulating all 135 awardees and fellowship holders. She said, "Sangeet Natak Akademi has been promoting various Indian art forms, music, dance, folk drama and theatre for the last seven decades. The Akademi is relentlessly working towards the wide publicity of these genres. The institution has also started efforts to connect the young generation with the arts. I appreciate the Akademi for organising the Amrit Yuva Kala Utsav." The President ended her speech by saying, "I want to tell both the ministers and my sister (Dr. Sandhya Purecha) sitting here that today you have introduced me to the ocean of art. I consider myself fortunate that I got a chance to meet and felicitate the artistes of three years. You have joined me with the sea, but I am waiting for the day when you join me with its rivers and tributaries. Thank you!" To quote Sangeet Natak Akademi's press release: "The Fellows and awardees not only represent the length and breadth of the Indian nation as a whole, but also the diverse forms of creative expressions and our heritage." Fellowship awardees  |
