Sikkim Kalakar Bharosa Sammelan starts at Manan Kendra

HEMIKA NAG

GANGTOK, : The 3rd edition of Sikkim KalakarBharosaSammelan (SKBS) commenced today at Manan Kendra here.

The opening day had masterclasses on dance, music, fine arts, theatre, film and fashion, which were held in various sections of Manan Kendra. The resource person for the dance masterclass was Kamal Rai. Similarly, the resource person for the music masterclass was Sudip Baral. The resource persons for the film masterclass were Prashant Rasaily, Tribeny Rai Samten Bhutia, B. K. Agarwal and Biswas Timsina. The resource person for fine arts masterclass was Sishir Thapa, while for the theatre masterclass, resource persons were Bipin Kumar and Souti Chakraborty. The resource person for the fashion masterclass was Anjli R. Gill and Alesia Raut.

Similarly, the event had various musical and dance performances by artists of the State, and a special performance by guest artists BabitaManandhar, Rebika Gurung and Lhamu Lepcha.

Speaking on the relevance of art, Nepalese actor Sandeep Chettri gave a light-hearted yet inspiring account of his journey in the field of film. Chettri lauded Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s vision for cultural growth in Sikkim, as well as his progressive leadership and continued support towards the artistic and media community in Sikkim. He stated that the State government’s commitment to promoting culture, creativity, and local talent has significantly contributed to the growth of the state, transforming it into a thriving land for artists, performers, and media professionals. Such initiatives aids in preserving Sikkim’s rich cultural identity while also solidifying the State’s creative economy, he added.

In her address, Nepalese actress Karishma Manandhar lauded the progressive initiative of Sikkim Art, Culture and Heritage Development Board in supporting and elevating the artistic endeavours of the people of the State. She also stated that she finds Sikkim to be very forward in terms of cultural and artistic development, and urges that the efforts continue in the future.

All the resource persons who conducted the masterclasses in the first half of the day were formally felicitated by Health minister G.T. Dhungel, who was the chief guest of the day, along with former MLA Krishna Kumari Rai and others.

G.T. Dhungel, in his address, emphasized on the importance of art and artists, stating that it is not simply a decoration, but a reflection of society. He also highlighted the prevalence of art in various aspects, especially in terms preservation of culture, language and social intricacies. He extended his gratitude to the Chief Minister and the State government for upholding the values of art and for supporting the State's artists. 

The first day of the programme was concluded with a by KM Sufi Ensemble.