Araku Utsav

2 day Araku Utsav- a festival showcasing the rich heritage and culture of the tribes, was celebrated in Andhra Pradesh.

• The Festival:

The Araku Utsav is a 2 day annual celebration in the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh. It is aimed at showcasing the local tribal culture and heritage. It is also to encourage tourism to the region. It is organised by the state government.

• Araku Valley:

The Araku Valley is also known as ‘Ooty of Andhra’. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats in the Vishakhapatnam district. It houses a mainly tribal population. According to the 2011 census, 91.5% of the population are Scheduled Tribe members.

• Dhimsa:

Dhimsa is a tribal dance form performed by the Porja Tribes in the region. It involves a group of dancers moving in a circle along with movement of feet and the hands in an expressive manner. The musical instruments used for this are dapu, tudumu, mori, kiridi and jodukommulu.