• The three day Cultural Festival of the 11th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav in Rajbari of Cooch Behar, West bengal concluded with programs performed by Dohar, a popular Bengali band, other renowned artists and local troupes. 

    • The eleventh edition of 'Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav' is being held between February 14-28 in West Bengal with the festivities divided at Cooch Behar (Feb 14-16), Darjeeling (Feb 22-24), and Murshidabad (Feb 27-28, 2021).

    • Through this event the ministry endeavours to provide the much-needed support and assistance to the artists as well as the confidence that cultural functions can be now organized taking into account all necessary precautions.

    • The Mahotsav-2021 will cover a profusion of folk art forms and it would offer the chance to experience the best in established and emerging virtuosity.

    • It will reconnect the people, especially the youth, with their indigenous culture, its multi-faceted nature, magnificence, opulence and historical importance in the context of India as a Nation over the millennia.

    • The Mahostav organised for the Rajbari, the magnificent palace grounds witnessed performances by renowned artists and musicians; folk artists highlighting the rich cultural diversity. 

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahostav, the flagship festival of this Ministry of Culture has been organized since 2015 with the active participation of Seven Zonal Culture Centres has been playing a pivotal role to take the vibrant culture of India out to the masses instead of confining to auditoria and galleries.

The event has been instrumental in showcasing, folk and tribal art, dance, music, cuisines, and culture of one state in other states reinforcing the cherished goal of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and at the same time providing an effective platform to the artists and artisans to support their livelihood.

Ten editions of RSM have been held till date since November, 2015 in various states and cities such as Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Tawang, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tehri and Madhya Pradesh.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)