FATHOM 2014: A Cultural Extravaganza of North-East India at Pondicherry

September 28, 2014

From Manipur : FATHOM 2014: A Cultural Extravaganza of North-East India at Pondicherry on 27 September, 2014

FATHOM 2014: A Cultural Extravaganza of North-East India
Event date: 27th of September, 2014, Pondicherry.
Source: Media Squad; North-East Students, Pondicherry University (NESt, PU)

Fathom 2014, an endeavour of the students and faculty hailing from North-east India in Pondicherry University was organized at the Cultural-cum-Convention Centre, Pondicherry University.

A first of its kind, the Cultural event was attended by eminent personalities and was inaugurated by the Registrar of Pondicherry University Shri Raajiv Yaduvanshi who was the Chief Guest at the event. Shri Praveer Ranjan (IPS) Inspector General of Police, UT Puducherry was the Guest of Honour.

The First session of the event started with the National Anthem which was followed by a welcome speech and then the opening song which was sung by the students from the state of Meghalaya.

This was followed by felicitation of the dignitaries. A documentary displaying the Culture and heritage of Assam was then screened. The Daosri Delai Dance which is a traditional dance of the Bodo tribe of Assam was then performed by the Bodo students of the University.

After Assam, it was now the turn of Arunachal Pradesh, when again a documentary was first screened followed by a traditional dance performance on a song entitled Tai Lung, which is a special dance performed on Poi Pee Mau, the new year of the respective tribe around the month of April according to the English Calendar.

This was followed by a documentary on the state of Manipur(former Kangleipak) and then the Khamba Thoibi dance of the Meeteis of Manipur. This particular dance is performed on the occasion of The Lai Haraoba, a festival that celebrates the creation and evolution of mankind.

From Nagaland : FATHOM 2014: A Cultural Extravaganza of North-East India at Pondicherry on 27 September, 2014

A documentary on the state of Mizoram followed by the Cheraw dance was the next event in line. The Cheraw dance of the Mizos is performed on the occasion of Chapchakut which is a main festival of the respective tribe. The Chapchakut which is a traditional festival is celebrated around the month of March.

The Chief Guest Shri Raajiv Yaduvanshi then addressed the gathering saying that this was a unique experience for him, even after having travelled to North-east India a number of times; he had not experienced the cultural heritage in such a scale. He wished for such kind of events to take place even in the years to come.

Meghalaya or the abode of clouds was next in line with a documentary being screened, followed by Shad Thma, a warrior dance performed by the Khasi Tribe of Meghalaya to assert the authority of the woman as the family head.

A state documentary on the state of Nagaland was the next event in line. The Feast of Merit, a dance of the Naga Tribe was then performed. This is a dance performed to celebrate the splendour of Naga life and its Head-Hunting Tradition.

Tangkhul Dance : FATHOM 2014: A Cultural Extravaganza of North-East India at Pondicherry on 27 September, 2014

The second session of the event started with a Western Music piece followed by the Ethnic Costume Extravaganza, a culmination of all the traditional dresses of the North-east on one platform worn by some amazing men and women of the region.

There was then the Assamese Drama performed by the respective students portraying how the times have changed in the state of Assam, post independence.

The Shad Pliang and the Shad Sukra was then performed by the students of Meghalaya which is a traditional dance of the Jaintia tribe from the state of Meghalaya. The Shad Pliang which is a dance done with plates and the Shad Sukra which is the sowing dance of the Jaintias.

The Bihu Dance, from the state of Assam is the harvest dance of the Assamese people, was also performed by the Assamese students of the University.

Among others was also a Garo dance, a Tangkul dance, Thanlunghnemia Mizo song,a Bodo dance, and last but not the least was the Rock Music session, which is essentially a part of the culture of North-east India.

The vote of thanks was then delivered by the Pillarson A S, a Research Scholar which brought down the curtain to Fathom 2014. The cultural extravaganza had come to an end.