Art & Culture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar Hails Student Performers at Ravindra Bhavan; Push for Inter-State Cultural Exchange

MARGAO: The auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan came alive with the rhythms of India on Tuesday as school students from across Goa performed folk and tribal dances from multiple states during a workshop on “Indian Folk & Tribal Dances” held under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative.

Minister for Art and Culture Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar attended the event organised by the Directorate of Art and Culture, interacting with student performers and instructors who demonstrated dance forms ranging from Gujarat’s Garba and Rajasthan’s Kalbelia to Jharkhand’s Chhau and Nagaland’s war dances

.The workshop is part of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, a central programme pairing Goa with Jharkhand to promote mutual understanding of art, culture, and traditions. Over 120 students from 15 Goan schools took part in the day-long session, learning not just steps but the stories, costumes, and rituals behind each form. Master trainers explained how tribal dances mark harvests, festivals, and rites of passage, while folk forms reflect regional histories

Dr. Tawadkar said such workshops break silos between states and help Goan youth appreciate India’s cultural plurality.

“When a Goan child learns Chhau or a Jharkhand student learns Dekhni, they carry that respect for life,” he told the gathering. He urged schools to set up ‘culture clubs’ and announced that the best performers would get a chance to represent Goa at inter-state youth festivals. Students were given exposure to indigenous instruments like the mandar, dhol, and bamboo flutes, and briefed on how dance forms are adapting to modern stages without losing authenticity. The event ended with a joint performance blending Goan Fugdi with Jharkhand’s Paika, drawing applause from parents and officials.