In a vibrant celebration of tribal culture and heritage, the Department of Tribal Affairs, Jammu and Kashmir today organized a day-long Tribal Youth Festival in the complex of Gurjardesh Charitable Trust, Jammu .
The event, held in connection with ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah’ – Tribal Pride week, brought together 200 young tribal artists from across the region to commemorate the birth anniversary of the iconic tribal leader, Birsa Munda.
The event was graced by the presence of key dignitaries, including Musheer Ahmad Mirza, Director Tribal Affairs Department J&K, Dr. Abdul Khabir, Deputy Director Tribal Affairs, Noted Tribal Researcher Dr. Javaid Rahi, Sharief Chouhan, General Secretary of GDCT, tribal elders, senior officers from Tribal Welfare department and a significant number of locals who enthusiastically participated in the festivities.
Dr. Abdul Khabir, in his welcome address, outlined the primary objective of the week-long celebrations– to highlight the contributions of the Tribal freedom fighters and organize a series of events to project and protect the diverse tribal culture prevalent in the region.
In his concluding remarks, Musheer Ahmad Mirza expressed that the festival aimed to provide a platform for young tribal artists to showcase their talents before a diverse audience. He emphasized that such events would be meticulously documented to preserve and promote the rich cultural tapestry of the tribal communities.
Dr. Javaid Rahi, a noted tribal researcher, underscored the significance of the event by stating that the Constitution of India recognizes 705 tribes as Scheduled Tribes. In Jammu and Kashmir, tribes like Gujjar, Bakerwal, Gaddi, Sippi, Dard/Shin, Balti, and Boto each contribute to the rich cultural mosaic, and events like these spotlight the wealth of culture and ethnicity. Dr. Rahi stressed the need to preserve these centuries-old traditions for the benefit of future generations.
