Centre to provide cultural package to Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, May 11 (UNI) The Centre is actively considering a comprehensive cultural package for Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern of North-Eastern states, a spokesman of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages said here today.

He said this decision was taken at a meeting of high level officials of all the three national academies and state academy of Art, Culture and Languages presided over by Dr Ram Niwas Mirdha, Chairman Sangeet Natak Akademi.

The main aim of the package is to promote and preserve art and culture and disseminate the sofiyana and folk heritage of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in a big way.

It was decided in the meeting, held to discuss the modalities in this regard, that central cultural agencies would sponsor the writers and artists of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to perform at national and international level.

It was felt that cultural tourism of the state has not been fully explored so as to have a peep in to rich and glorious heritage of the state and this sector needs to be addressed on priority bases forthwith.

In this connection folk theatre festivals would be organised in all the districts and tehsil headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir in various languages including Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Punjabi, Pahari and Ladakhi.

Seminars on different aspects of the cultural heritage of state would also be organised to discuss the cultural issues at grass root level.

Dr Rafiq Masoodi, Secretary State Academy has further informed that Sangeet Natak Akademi has agreed to collaborate the state academy in making of music albums of Sofiyana and folk artists of Jammu and Kashmir for prosperity.

This will be a step of forereaching consequences in the cultural history of the state.

Secretary academy further expressed that since the time immemorial, Kashmir is the abode of multiplicity of ethnic groups and boasts of a rich, cultural Tapestry, woven beautifully with multi coloured yarns of distinct heritages, trditions, life styles, faiths and beliefs.

The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is making all over efforts for preservation of our heritage in a scientific manner.

UNI BAS SK HS1738