The long-awaited State Itkhori Festival was introduced today with a splendid opening ceremony in the midst of colourful cultural performances and religious enthusiasm. The Jharkhand government organizes the three-day festival, which is meant to promote tourism in the state by celebrating the rich spiritual heritage and tribal heritage of the region.
The pubic event is being organized in the antique town of Itkhori, which is well known due to the Bhadrakali Temple of worship. The temple grounds and surrounding environs have been adorned with attractive light decorations and traditional designs to mimic a party mood, which attracted huge masses of people on the opening day.
There were state ministers, local representatives who accompanied the inauguration ceremony and senior administrative officials. In his speech to the assembly, dignitaries pointed to the cultural and religious values of Itkhori, as a place of concordance where Hindu and Buddhist cultures meet. They pointed out that such festivals not only maintain the cultural identity of Jharkhand but also give a space where local artists and artisans can express their talent.
An opening evening was marked with a series of colourful programmes. The audience was involved in traditional tribal dances, folk songs and musical performances. Those artists who took part in the event represented different districts of Jharkhand, which shows the variety of the cultural landscape in the state. The celebrations were supplemented by special performances by invited cultural troupes.
Besides cultural performances, various stalls were established with the local handicrafts, handloom products and local foodstuffs. Tourists are also visiting galleries that exhibit tribal artworks, sculptures and historical artefacts that relate to the ancient traditions of Itkhori. The festival will also have the advantage of enhancing the small businesses and providing income to the local vendors.
The security arrangements and the measures have been tightened to have an atmosphere of the smooth running of the three-day event. There is sufficient lighting and sanitation, and parking facilities provided by the district administration to the visitors.
The State Itkhori Festival will last the following two days, full of other cultural performances, devotional programmes and community aspects. People in power hoped that the festival would make Itkhori a leading religious and cultural tourism destination in Jharkhand.
The festival has started in a colourful tone with both the locals and the tourists fully involved in the festival, celebrating the spirit, tradition and unity of Jharkhand.
