Tawi Festival to Celebrate Jammu’s Culture and Heritage

Jammu & Kashmir is set to host the annual ‘Tawi Festival’ from March 1st to 4th, 2024. Centered on the banks of the river Tawi flowing through Jammu city, the event will showcase the region’s vibrant cultural legacy through arts, cuisine, literature and folk traditions.

The festival is being jointly organized by the Tourism Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation and prominent cultural institutions of the city. It provides a platform to nurture local talent and enterprises while drawing attention to Jammu’s distinct ethos.

Festival Events and Attractions

A diverse set of activities have been planned during the 4-day festival spanning music, dance, theatre, discussions, food and shopping:

Performing Arts:

• Folk music and songs from Dogra tradition by local troupes
• Classical dance recitals like Kathak and Bharatnatyam
• Theatrical productions in Dogri and Hindi
• Concerts by bands from Jammu’s colleges

Literary and Cultural:

• Dogri poetry symposium
• Seminars on Jammu’s archeology & architectural heritage
• Workshops on miniature painting styles
• Workshop for school students on drama

Cuisine:

• Food festival with stalls serving regional delicacies from Jammu and the Himalayan belt
• Showcase of organic produce by women self-help groups

Mela and Exhibitions:

• Expo of local handicraft, jewelry and artworks
• Stalls with plants and organic skincare products sourced from regional cooperatives

The festival finale on March 4th will shift to the University of Jammu hosting lectures by eminent academics along with cultural performances by university students.

Objectives of the Festival

After two years of muted celebrations due to COVID-19, authorities envision a grand revival edition to:

• Highlight J&K’s focus on cultural regeneration under the current administration
• Instill cultural pride and conservational ethic among Jammu’s youth
• Boost cultural tourism footfalls beyond staple destinations like Vaishno Devi
• Extend visibility among domestic and foreign visitors to Jammu’s composite heritage

As expressed by organizers from the Amar Mahal Museum & Library steering the programming, “The Tawi Festival aims to bring various slices of Jammu’s culture together on a common platform through immersive experiences centered around art, knowledge and community.”

Wider Relevance

Tourism stakeholders consider the event an apt occasion to position Jammu as the pivot of the state’s multi-dimensional cultural essence. Jammu acts as the gateway tying together Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal regions by virtue of its geographical centrality.

Its location within lush forests at the foothills of the Trikuta mountains has fostered a unique blend of Dogri, Pahari, Gojri and Punjabi influences. The Tawi festival seeks to encapsulate this composite regional identity of Jammu.

For local businesses battered by recent turmoil, the festival promises renewed focus and livelihood sources by reviving cultural tourism. With cuisine, arts, wellness and eco-tourism emerging as key trends, stakeholders envision the event as a curtain-raiser for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage which will follow later in the summer.

Category: Art & Culture Current Affairs