Jammu is set for an enthralling exposition of art and music for the first time. The Tawi Festival of Art and Ideas has been conceived and launched by Dr Jyotsana Singh, Daughter of Dr Karan Singh and granddaughter of the erstwhile maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, and is being organised in collaboration with Jammu University, Natrang Theatre and FICCI FLO, Jammu.
The festival aims to honour and promote the rich traditions of Jammu. The three-day event will commence on February 25 at the Amar Mahal Museum Complex. It will see a variety of artists, art historians, and heritage experts from the region who will be involved in talks, showcases, etc., about the traditional costumes of the Dogra Maharanis, rare books from the collection of Raja Amar Singh, Basohli and Kangra miniature paintings, contemporary art and classical music to name a few. Wondering what to expect from the debutant festival We got you covered.
Day 1
The festival will be inaugurated by Dr Karan Singh, a renowned statesman and philosopher. Professor BN Goswamy will present a keynote address on &lsquoThe things we do not see&rsquo. You can then attend the guided walk through the Nala Damayanti Painting Gallery, Darbar Hall, and a display of Basohli and Kangra miniature-style paintings. This will be followed by a panel discussion on contemporary art practices by Rajinder Tikoo, sculptor, with Lalit Gupta, curator and Suman Gupta, artist. Additionally, there will be a traditional music performance by Asha Rani, and the day will close with the Gala Dinner showcasing the cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir.
DAY 2
The morning will see a 90-minute heritage walk of Mubarak Mandi followed by the inauguration of Heritage Past and Future by Rajinder Pawar, Founder and Chairman of the NIIT Group. Speakers like Vinita Dawra, Vaishnavi Kumari, and Maalvika Pathania will extensively speak about their field of expertise with open-crowd interaction. The Amar Mahal Lawns will be the venue for The Mela, which will showcase traditional dancers, musicians, street theatre, and more. The night will end with a performance by Mukteshi Sharma, who will headline a classical vocal concert.
DAY 3
The final day will start with the inauguration of a book fair by Dr Rashmi Singh, Commissioner of State Taxes, J&K. Speakers like Professor Shyam Lal, Shailendra Singh, and Khalid Hussain will make presentations on the cultural sites of the Dogra period, contemporary vernacular writing, and Punjabi short stories, respectively. Swami Antar Nirav is expected to present his soulful poems in Pahadi and Urdu. Audience interaction has been looked at with equal importance, with sessions being organised with prolific writer Suman Sharma and author Bhavneet Kaur.
The Tawi Festival of Art and Ideas has a huge scope of things to be attended at your disposal. Get ready for an immersive experience of J&K culture.
The Information
How to get there
By air The Jammu Civil Enclave is a domestic airport serving the city. There is direct flight connectivity with major Indian cities.
By railway There are special trains for the festival itself. The Jammu Tawi railway station is near the city and well-connected to New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaisalmer, etc.
By road The roads leading to Jammu are well maintained, with regular services by government/private buses.
For more information, check the website.