North East traditional drummers assembled in Tura

Shillong, Dec 12 (UNI) The beating of drums of all shapes and from the North-Eastern States reverberated in unison at the first-ever- two-day North East Drum Festival, 2006 came to a close at Tura.

The event was organised by the Doordarshan Kendras of eight NE states at the MP Stadium at Dakopgre in state's Tura, district headquarters of West Garo Hills districts, concluded on Saturday.

The festival was inaugurated by Governor M M Jacob, who said even as we step towards modernity, accept modern ideas, it was our duty to see that our rich folk art and culture are maintained in all their glory.

He underlined the need to hold such festival not only once but every year so that a common bond is established between people. He congratulated Doordarshan for building 'bridges of understanding' between various ethnic groups of the North-East by holding such a wonderful event.

Earlier, Deputy Director General of Doordarshan North Eastern Region V Sekhose said the greatest gift of the NE to our country was our colourful tradition with the drum being synonymous.

''This was the first endeavour of its kind in the history of Doordarshan in NE, to showcase the different kinds of drums available in the region and reconsolidate our unity and oneness,'' Ms Sekhose said. She appealed to the youth to 'pick up drums, not guns, and make the region proud and prosperous.

Among the colourful performances in the two-day Festival, the Khong Toki dance of Arunachal Pradesh, Drummers from Manipur, Bihu- Dhol from Asom, Cheraw of Mizoram, drums symphony from Khasi Hills and Sikkim, Traditional dance from Nagaland, Jojagiri dance from Tripura and Wangala dance of Garos and many others kept the audience enthralled.

The event was also telecast live on Doordarshan channels all over the region.

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