''Octave'' to showcase the colours of North East

New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) A week-long cultural festival "Octave" to showcase the diverse and rich heritage of North East will be organised here from March eight to March 14.

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, more than 600 artists from different streams of art forms, ranging from folk, tribal, and traditional music and dance, to theatre and pop groups and bands will participate in this eight-day cultural extravaganza.

Briefing mediapersons on the unique festival, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the festival on March seven at the Hamswadhwani Auditorium at Pragati Maidan.

The festival signifies the participation of the eight states of the North East. It also signifies a musical note and conveys harmony through the folk and classical dances, traditional music, choral music, popular music and instrumental music, theatre, cinema, visual arts, literature and cinema of the North Eastern states. Film festival, art exhibition symposium and poetry readings form an integral part of this cultural milieu.

The Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism has put together the Festival in collaboration of Sangeet Natak Academi, Sahitya Akademy, Lalit Kala Akademi National School of Drama, East Zone Cultural Centre, North East Zonal Cultural Centre, Directorate of Film Festivals, (I&B Ministry) and ITPO.

Besides Chief Ministers of North Eastern states, eminent personalities from various fields like Mr Aribam Shyam Sharma and Manju Borah (Films), Dr. Indira Goswami, Dr. Anil Boro, L.

Joyochandra Singh, Mrs. Minakshi Sen, Dr. Sylvanus Lamare, Dr.

D.Koulie (literary figures), Mr Shobha Brahma (artist), about 14 poets, upcoming theatre directors and choreographers and well known musical groups will be participating in the festival.

UNI SH YA RK2030