IGNCA’s Foundation Day Celebration to Showcase Kaleidoscope of Arts and Culture
Renowned Artists Ayaan Ali Bangash and Pt. Rahul Sharma to Perform during IGNCA’s 37th Foundation Day Celebration
New Delhi: The 37th Foundation Day of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) will be commemorated from March 19th to 21st at the IGNCA premises situated at Janpath. Over the course of three days, a diverse array of programs will unfold, encompassing classical singing, instrumental music, dance performances, a vibrant celebration of ‘Phoolon Ki Holi’ (Holi with flowers), engaging workshops, and an exhibition of baskets, among others. On the eve of Foundation Day Celebration, a press conference was conducted where Prof. Richa Kamboj, Head of Department, Kaladarsana Division, IGNCA; Dr. Richa Negi, Director of the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, and Mr. Anurag Punetha, Controller of the Media Centre, addressed the press, setting the stage for the forthcoming celebrations.
India stands as a dynamic civilization, its vitality enduring through centuries while many ancient counterparts fade into history. The foundation of its endurance lies in its rich fabric of culture, philosophy, and arts. At the helm of preserving, promoting, and presenting this cultural wealth stands the autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. On the occasion of the centre’s foundation day, the vibrant hues of art and culture naturally unfurl, showcasing India’s enduring legacy.
On the first day of the Foundation Day, March 19th, the celebration of classical music will commence with a violin performance by the Akkarai Sisters S. Subbalakshmi and S. Soranlatha. On the same day, renowned Sarod player Ayaan Ali Bangash will captivate the audience with his mesmerizing melodies. On the second day, March 20th, acclaimed santoor player Pt. Rahul Sharma will take the audience on a musical journey, while the maestro of classical vocals, Vidushi Aarti Ankalikar Tikekar, will enchant the audience with her captivating singing.
Prof. Richa Kamboj provided information that in addition to these programs, an exhibition showcasing the art of bamboo basketry, known as ‘Basketry’ from the North-Eastern regions, has been organized at the ‘Darshanam’ Art Gallery located on the ground floor of the centre, which will run until March 22nd. On the occasion of Foundation Day, a workshop will also be conducted from March 20th to 22nd. The topic of the workshop is “Disaster Risk Management in Museums”. It will provide training to professionals associated with museums on how to manage situations of disaster in museums. She also mentioned that on the third day of the foundation day celebration, i.e., March 21st, the launch of two books will also take place. One of these books is ‘The Siddham Calligraphy of Sanskrit Hieronyms’, authored by Prof. Lokesh Chandra. It has been published by IGNCA. The second book is ‘Sanskrit Manuscripts from Japan – Volume 1’, along with its launch, there will also be a discussion on it. This book is an important endeavour towards strengthening the relationship between India and Japan.
Dr. Richa Negi mentioned that on March 21st, there will be programs related to folk music. On that day, Ms. Archana Koytara will present the folk poetry of Bundelkhand, known as ‘Isuri Fag’. Meanwhile, P. Ayyappaswamy and his troupe will showcase the ‘Garagalu’ dance from Andhra Pradesh. On the third day, Dhanarani Devi will present Manipur’s ‘Basant Raas’ with her group, and Devendra Pal will spread the colours of Braj through ‘Phoolon Ki Holi’ (Holi celebration with flowers) along with his group. Mr. Anurag Punetha informed that besides the IGNCA headquarters, various programs related to the Foundation day will also be organized at its nine regional centres.
It is noteworthy that last year, in 2023, the 36th Foundation Day of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts was held from March 19th to 24th at the IGNCA premises, featuring discussions, cultural programs, and more.