By IANS,
Chandigarh : Over 200 writers and artists from South Asian countries will showcase their folklore traditions at a festival here that will kick off Friday.
The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (Foswal) is organising the second edition of the SAARC Folklore Festival here that will be on here till Nov 9 and will be extended to Shimla from Nov 10-11.
“The main aim of this festival is to encourage those talented artists who are languishing for want of resources and government support. We have observed that folklore is not for the elite, it is only for poor villagers who tried to derive some entertainment through it,” Ajeet Cour, president of Foswal, told reporters here Thursday.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SSARC) includes India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives and Pakistan.
Around 140 writers and artists from India and 60 from the other countries are participating.
Cour stated that this festival will include an assortment of events like folk performances by Mauj folk band and Shafiq Mureed musical group from Afghanistan, peacock dance from Nepal, Bhili Ramayan, Bhili Mahabharat, Yakshagaan, Tati folk singers and Kashmiri geetaru.
The performances will be spread over the city, including Tagore Theatre and in various open spaces.