Need for promotion of Dogra Culture

Sir,
It is heartening to read that a scintillating  cultural show, financially supported by Ministry of Culture, Government of India, was organised by Tripple ‘A’ Performing Arts at a Nau Devian, Sulla Park (Reasi) on October 19, 2016.(DE, Oct20, 2016).It is indeed,appreciable that the cultural items such as Kud, Jagrana,Bhakhan, Gojri folk songs etc were presented in  the programme amidst a large number of spectators.The folk forms of our state, such as Dogri Geetru, Bhakhan, Kud, Jagrana, Baaran, Kaarak,Kashmiri and  Ladakhi folkmusic and folkdances etc , which are an integral part of our rich culture,may also  be promoted in the major programmes such as Independence/Republic  Day celebrations and other cultural functions.
Moreover, there is also  need to organise cultural melas at tehsil and district headquarters to provide an opportunity to the students and budding local artists to display their rich culture as also to enable the  young generation to have a glimpse of their rich culture and appreciate it.In this respect, the Department of Information/Field Publicity, Ministry of Culture and agencies such as J and K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages have an important role to play.Our folksongs, folklores and folkdances are an important part of our rich and varied culture and sincere efforts must be made to preserve them otherwise they will vanish into oblivion.The different social and religious organisations also ought to come forward and promote folk music and folkdances.People must take pride in preserving and following their culture and should make  arrangements of  folk music and folk dances on the eve of marriage, mundan and other social and religious occassions. The  parents should also aquaint their children with the prominent features of Dogra culture and tell them stories of the valour, sacrifice and  history of Dogra heros and warriors and advise them to feel proud of their rich culture and take pride in promoting and preserving it.Last but  not least there is need to start a full fledged Dogri TV Channel to boost and promote Dogra culture in our state.
Yours etc…
Ankita Sharma,
Udhampur