In an attempt to familiarise the world with Uttar Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage and folk art, the Yogi Adityanath government is set to celebrate the ‘Sanskriti Utsav 2023’ from December 25 to January 26, 2024 on a grand scale.

The event, themed ‘Hamari Sanskriti-Hamari Pehchaan,’ aims to offer a platform for local artists in the state to showcase their talents and compete for awards.

In line with Chief Minister  Yogi Adityanath’s vision, the Department of Culture in Uttar Pradesh will organise this festival across the state,  featuring different layers of contests at tehsil, district, division and state levels primarily based on classical and semi-classical music and dance as well as diverse forms of folk dances and music.

The ‘Sanskriti Utsav 2023’  will be held in every corner of the state, with competitions scheduled at tehsil headquarters between December 25 and 30, where artists from villages, panchayats, blocks, and tehsils will participate.

The artists selected at the tehsil level will advance to the district-level competition from January 1 to 5, 2024, and subsequently, a divisional-level competition will take place from January 10 to 15, 2024.

After passing through three more stages, the competition will reach the decisive stage, and the competitions of all three stages will be organised in Lucknow. Selected artists at the divisional level will have the opportunity to participate in the main event, where they will be felicitated.

To make this event successful, widespread participation will be ensured, involving government and semi-government departments, educational institutions, voluntary organisations, Nehru Yuva Kendra, National Cadet Corps and social activists at various levels. The Information and Public Relations department will also take extensive steps for the publicity of the Utsav.

As part of the event, competitions will be organised in classical singing, including Khayal and Dhrupad, as well as in semi-classical singing, featuring Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Chaita, Jhoola, Hora, Tappa. Instrumental competitions will include flute, shehnai, harmonium, sitar, violin, guitar, sarangi, veena, tabla, pakhawaj, mridangam, and ghatam, along with competitions related to indigenous and folk instruments.

Similarly, dance competitions will encompass Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Mohiniyattam, and other classical dance forms. Additionally, folk dance competitions will include Dhoobiya, Ahirwa, Karma, Shaila, Domkach, Akheta, as well as competitions in folk drama, including Nautanki, Ramleela, Raslila, Swang, Bhagat, Bahurupiya, Nukkad Natak, and more.

In folk singing, competitions will cover categories such as Kajri, Chaiti, Jhoola, Biraha, Alha, Nirgun, Lokgeet, and Qawwali, and under the category of easy music, competitions will be held for songs, ghazals, bhajans, and patriotic songs.