Art & Culture
Children film festival at Gaiety Theater Shimla proves to be highly disappointing
No supervision from the local organizers or from Children Film Society, hardly any adherence to time schedule, no refreshments to students, no words of encouragement
SHIMLA- It does not make any sense to talk with a common sense to a person who has almost all thinking common with almost all people all the time, and remains confined within own circumference of ‘I’, ‘ME’ and ‘Myself’ and often has the view or sentence with the word ‘YOU’ and something similar is experienced when it come to dealing with art and culture promotion in the city.
Recently, the children film festival held at Gaiety Theater made news not for the quality of films that were being screened but unfortunately for DC reaching the venue to inaugurate the festival and only to be received by a vacant hall.
However, later the festival was inaugurated by Addl. District Magistrate G.C. Negi but it really pains to see the careless attitude when it comes to screening of festival. There was not a single representative present on the spot on second day from the organizers party.
First time as per the reliable sources such festivals is seen where there is no supervision from the local organizers or from Children Film Society. There is hardly any check if the time schedule is followed or not and above all children are not even provided with refreshments that came all the way walking from different parts of Shimla to be part of this festival.
The most ironic thing in the festival is that it is claimed to be held with a hope to inspire students and to entertain the children through educative films, a film featuring Shreya Sharma (Mehak Mirza) a local girl who has worked in a film like “Blue Umbrella” goes unnoticed. It was responsibility of the authorities to formally invite her or atleast inform her about the screening of film (which she however learned from someone else before any formal intimation might be sent as per the time of writing of this article it was not).
It does pain a lot for not able to say a different and caring thought being felt inside, but it feels even more agony by saying out the same and then seeing the indifferent attitude of the people towards it. as one of the spectators was asked if he knew that she was a local girl living in particular place his attitude too said why do I care.
Majority of the spectators do not even recognize her and hence remain in dark. If the festival is to educate students we need to tell them and make them familiar with artists who are starting as children and not wait till the time they become big names like Preity Zinta or Kangana.
More than thousands of students were part of this festival and yet not a word of appreciation for the ones who are trying hard to make the state proud.
Shimla– This clip of the the Singhtu dance, a captivating and popular folk tradition from Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district, was captured at the Seepur Mela held in Mashobra recently.
It is a cherished jewel in the state’s rich and diverse cultural mosaic. This mesmerizing performance, steeped in ancient traditions, enjoys immense popularity, enchanting audiences on both local and international stages. In the Sirmauri dialect, “Singhtu” refers to a lion cub, and in Hindu mythology, the lion is revered as the sacred vehicle of Goddess Durga, lending profound spiritual significance to the dance.
Performed exclusively twice a year during Diwali and Ekadashi, the Singhtu dance is a ritualistic offering at temples and sacred sites, where it has been presented since time immemorial.
Performers don intricately crafted masks depicting animals such as lions, bears, leopards, and mythical forest beings, which are brought out from temples only for these occasions.
These masks, combined with the dancers’ rhythmic movements, vividly evoke Sirmaur’s ancient culture, transporting spectators to a bygone era while celebrating the region’s deep connection to nature.
Himachal Pradesh is a vibrant tapestry of unique traditions, with each district showcasing distinct folk dances, music, and rituals that reflect the state’s multifaceted heritage.
The Singhtu dance, blending spirituality, artistry, and environmental consciousness, stands as a powerful testament to this diversity. Beyond its aesthetic allure, it conveys a timely message of wildlife conservation and environmental preservation, resonating with global concerns.
Art & Culture
Use Offerings Made at Himachal’s Hindu Religious Institutions Only For Hindus, Employ Only Hindus: HP Govt
Shimla-The Additional Chief Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Language, Art & Culture Department has issued a notification barring the use of offerings made at the Hindu religious places or institutions for non-Hindu Communities.
Directions in this regard have been issued to Commissioners (temple) under Section 27 of the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984.
“All the receipts or offerings including gold and silver of the Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments shall be used only for the purposes pertaining to the welfare and other activities relating to only Hindus. No receipts or offerings shall be used for the purposes associated with activities relating to Non-Hindus,” the notification said.
Further, now, no non-Hindu person would be given any sort of employment at the Hindu religious institutions/places.
“All the officers and officials including the personnel related to security etc. whether appointed or deputed or taken on outsourcing basis shall be out of the persons professing the Hindu religion only,” the notification said.
No further clarification was provided regarding the intended purpose of this move.
Art & Culture
Kullu Dussehra 2021: All Religious Ceremonies to be Allowed, But No Commercial and Cultural Events
Shimla-The International Kullu Dussehra would be organised from 15th October to 21st October, 2021, the Himachal Pradesh Government informed today after holding a meeting regarding the same.
The HP Government has decided that all deities would be invited for the Dussehra festival. Orgnaization of all religious ceremonies would be allowed traditionally, but the cultural and commercial activities would not be held.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over meeting of State Level Kullu Dussehra Committee. Directions were given to ensure proper security system, uninterrupted electricity supply and adherence of Covid-19 guidelines.
It was also decided in the meeting that Language, Art and Culture Department would provide an additional amount of Rs. 10 lakh to district administration Kullu for organising Kullu Dussehra festival.
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