UP’s culture to travel far and wide

The vibrant folk art, handicrafts, cuisines and culture of Uttar Pradesh are set to go places. On the anvil is ‘UP Parv’— an initiative of the state’s culture department that would take the state’s culture to various parts of the country.

The vibrant folk art, handicrafts, cuisines and culture of Uttar Pradesh are set to go places. On the anvil is ‘UP Parv’— an initiative of the state’s culture department that would take the state’s culture to various parts of the country.

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This ‘parv’ is a three-day event hosted in various states to showcase the art and culture of UP. Folk dance and music programmes in addition to exhibition of handicrafts, foods and literature would be part of it.

“Till a decade ago, UP Parv was a regular event hosted by the culture department in association with the departments of other states. The concept had not been part of the event calendar for many years but now the department has decided to revive the practice,” said YP Singh, director, Ayodhya Research Institute, a wing of the state culture department that has been assigned the task. Talking about the plan, Singh said, “We have already communicated the idea to the culture officials in Madhya Pradesh and they have accepted the idea with open arms. If all goes well, very soon there would be a UP Parv in MP.” The idea would be taken to other states after that.

Prominent folk forms of UP including, Bundelkhandi, Brij, Aalha, Birha along with the popular kathak would be showcased in the Parv. There would also be exhibitions of handicrafts from all over the state along with a guide of tourist attractions, archives etc.

The idea is also to establish a cultural link between various states of India through such programmes, said officials. The practice would encourage similar fests of other states in UP. Lucknow already celebrates Odisha Day with great enthusiasm on April 1.