Tawi Festival in Jammu & Kashmir going to start from 1st Mar

The beautiful city of Jammu, nestled in the foothills of the Trikuta mountains, is set to host the annual 'Tawi Festival' from March 1st to 4th, 2024. Centered on the banks of the river Tawi that flows through Jammu, this 4-day extravaganza will showcase the region's vibrant cultural legacy through arts, cuisine, literature and folk traditions.

Jointly organized by the Tourism Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation and leading cultural institutions of the city, the festival provides a platform to nurture local talent and enterprises while drawing attention to Jammu's distinct composite ethos shaped by Dogri, Pahari, Gojri and Punjabi influences. The grand revival edition aims to highlight J&K's focus on cultural regeneration, instill conservation ethic among youth, boost tourism beyond Vaishno Devi, and position Jammu as the pivot of the state's multi-faceted cultural essence.

Performing Arts Showcase

The festival has an exciting lineup of music, dance and theatrical performances that bring alive Jammu's living traditions and syncretic creativity on stage:

Folk Performances:

• Traditional Dogri folk music and Pahari songs by local troupes in regional languages
• Gojri folk dances like Keekli and Gatka by community artists
• Bamboo dance and other folk dances depicting harvest seasons and campfire celebrations

Classical Art Performances:

• Classical vocal and instrumental concerts by eminent artists from the region
• Recitals and demonstrations of classical dance forms like Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri and Sattriya

Theatre Showcases

• Theatrical productions in Dogri and Hindi by groups from Jammu's performing arts institutions
• Sanskrit plays, skits, comedy acts and impersonation shows by university groups
• Adaptations of Jammu's iconic love legends like Sohni-Mahiwal through monologues and songs

Literary and Cultural Programs

To nurture local literature and scholarship, the festival hosts symposiums, discussions and book releases:

Dogri Literary Conventions:

• Mushairas for renowned Dogri poets along with Kavi Sammelans for young writers
• Lectures and panel discussions interpreting Dogri literature traditions
• Book launches of new poetry, fiction and non-fiction works in the language

Cultural Seminars:

• Symposiums on Jammu's architecture, archaeology and built heritage by preservation experts
• Illustrated talks on the region's painting schools, textile motifs and dying crafts
• Discussions on sustainability issues surrounding Himalayan arts and crafts sectors

Student Workshops

• Workshop introducing drama and theater to school students as creative education tools
• Orientation on Jammu's oral histories, folk tales and mythological narratives

Cuisine Extravaganza

The palate takes centerstage at the festival food court that has stalls serving traditional delicacies from Jammu and the surrounding Himalayan belt:

Jammu Specials

• Iconic Dogra cuisine prep like Auriya-Rajma, Kalari cheese, Patore di Ges, Mithi Kodi
• Traditional sweets and savories like Soye Barfi, Kaju Katli Modak, Sund Panjeeri

Regional Delicacies

• Authentic Punjabi fare like Amritsari Fish, Tandoori Chicken, Makke di Roti-Sarson da Saag
• Kangri Dham representing Kashmiri Pandit spice-rich wazwan
• Chamba-Gaddi cuisine showing Pahari influence through meat curries and trout

Organic Langar

• Showcasing produce like honey, fruits, juices tapped from regional cooperatives
• Spread awareness on geographically tagged goods from J&K like Basmati, Katha

Mela and Exhibitions

The festival transforms Jammu's precincts into a vibrant mela ground:

Arts and Craft Display:

• Exhibition-cum-sale show of local artworks, carpets, mats, shawls, wood carvings, jewelry etc
• Works inspired by Jammu's landscape, rivers, architecture motifs and cultural symbols

Organic and Wellness Section:

• Display of therapeutic plants, aromatics, herbs and ingredients native to Jammu
• Stalls of agarbattis, essential oils, incense sticks drawing from the same

Grand Finale at Jammu University

The closing day witnesses engaging lectures, discussions and cultural performances within Jammu University auditorium hosted by senior faculty members:

Academic Lectures

• Talks interpreting tribal art traditions of J&K by scholars from Anthropology disciplines
• Discussions on the evolution of Dogri literature and its milestones

Cultural Performances

• Musical and dance item presentations by University students showcasing range of folk styles that shape Jammu's identity.
• Adaptations of Jammu's love legends through fresh storytelling formats like rap, mimicry, standup comedy etc.

Core Objectives of the Festival

The revival edition of the festival has some key purposes behind its expansive programming across 4 days:

Highlight Cultural Regeneration

Two years of muted celebrations have renewed focus on J&K's living heritage essential for community wellbeing. The festival highlights regeneration efforts for native art industries battered by turmoil.

Instill Youth Engagement

Platforms like talks, workshops, melas offer exposure essential to shape creative careers. They aim to inspire conservation ethic among youth regarding their culture.

Boost Tourism

Festivals foster repeat visits beyond singular destinations like Vaishno Devi, with experiential avenues for cultural tourism, eco-tourism and GI tagged local goods.

Brand Jammu as Culturally Rooted

As the region's keystone tying together Kashmir and Ladakh, Jammu's composite heritage merits renewed branding leveraging the Pahari pivot. Its distinct Dogri literature deserves nation-wide laurels.

Wider Relevance and Scope

With cuisine, arts, wellness and eco-tourism emerging as new niches, the festival can position Jammu as a rising cultural city. For small businesses battered by recent losses, it promises renewed avenues. Its success can lead to establishment of an annual cultural festival on the lines of popular literary jamborees. For tourism players, it is a curtain-raiser to the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage driving traffic during summer.

Artists see scope for cross-cultural collaborations, contemporary adaptations while conversing with traditional aesthetics. For educators, it ignites scope to nurture students' creative expression. As a collective cultural moment, it shapes the layman's engagement with heritage beyond shrines to discover Jammu's fabric.