Festival and celebrations

IIE DIGITAL: Inspired by Nagaland’s celebrated Hornbill Festival, West Bengal’s tribal communities are gearing up for a major cultural gathering that will bring the state’s diverse indigenous traditions under one roof. The festival is being planned in Hooghly’s Jangipara on August 9, coinciding with World Indigenous Day, with organisers looking to the state government for support.

Representatives from nearly 35 tribal communities are expected to take part, showcasing their distinct customs and heritage through dedicated stalls, traditional clothing, folk songs, dances and cultural performances. Archery, dhamsa-madal and other elements of indigenous life will also form part of the celebrations.

The event is likely to feature communities from different parts of Bengal, including the Asur and Toto groups, tribal communities from the Sundarbans and Junglemahal, as well as the Chakma community from Cooch Behar. Organisers say the initiative is aimed at keeping their traditions alive while giving each community a platform to present its unique cultural identity.

Much like the Hornbill Festival has brought Nagaland’s indigenous heritage to an international audience, the organisers hope the Jangipara event will put Bengal’s rich tribal culture in the spotlight and give the state’s indigenous communities a festival they can call their own.