A three-day cultural festival ‘Octave-25’ was inaugurated under the patronage of Chhattisgarh Governor and University Chancellor, Ramen Deka. The event showcasing the culture of all the 8 states in Northeast India is being organized from March 21 to 23 at Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh, by the South-Central Zone Cultural Center (Nagpur), Ministry of Culture, and Indira Kala Sangeet University, Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh.

Governor Deka, who hails from Assam, spoke of the rich cultural diversity of Chhattisgarh and the northeastern states, pointing out the similarities between their traditions. He praised the university for its role in preserving Indian culture and emphasized the importance of the government’s “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative, which fosters unity among India’s diverse states.

In his address, Governor Deka emphasized the importance of music and art as essential to relieving life’s stresses. He highlighted the university’s commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage, noting its success in national festivals such as Yuva Utsav in Bangalore and Noida.

More than 240 artistes afrom the Northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are participating in the festival. Apart from cultural show, the festival also includes Handicraft and Handloom Expo and food stalls showcasing cuisine of each state. Vice Chancellor Rathore provided insights into the university’s scope, with 18 colleges and 55 examination centers across India. He also celebrated the university’s achievements in arts and culture, including its efforts to house and support students through various facilities.

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Aastha Karlekar, Director, South-Central Zone Cultural Center (Nagpur), Ministry of Culture, described Octave-25 as a vital platform to connect the cultures, cuisines, and artists of India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country.

Dr. Prasanna Gogoi, Director of the North East Zone Cultural Center, Dimapur, Nagaland, encouraged attendees to explore the unique cultural richness of the Northeast, home to numerous tribes with distinct folk arts. The program began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, honouring the oil painting of Princess Indira.

The event was presided over by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Satya Narayan Rathore, with special guests including Aastha Karlekar, Director of the South-Central Zone Cultural Center, Dr. Prasanna Gogoi, Director of the North East Zone Cultural Center, and Prem Kumar Patel, Registrar of the University.

The event was coordinated by Dr. Yogendra Choubey. Prem Kumar Patel, Registrar, concluded the program by thanking the participants and encouraging everyone to engage with the diverse cultural offerings of the festival.