This is specially to invite you to cover the SPIC MACAY Uttarakhand State Convention being held from the 17th to the 19th of April ’2009, at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy ( IGNFA). Over 150 students from various schools in Uttarakhand are scheduled to participate in the Convention apart from eminent guests and personalities. This is a proud moment for Uttarakahnd indeed and we request your participation to make this event a huge success. It is the fond hope of SPICMACAYites that in the years to come these children grow up to be ardent cultural ambassadors of their country.
The programme would be formally inaugurated by -Chief Secretary Mr I K Pandy to the beats of Dhol Damau.
Founder of this unique movement that has created thousands of young cultural crusaders/ambassadors in the country, Dr Kiran Seth will deliver the Keynote address, followed by performances by Smt Basanti Devi Bhist (Mangal Gayan) and Kathak by (Padma Vibhushan) Pt Birju Maharaj
The morning of 18th April would be dedicated to Yoga, Naad Yoga and Shramdan. Next would be a conceptual session and talk by Dr Kiran Seth, introduction of student and staff delegates and a screening of a special film on SPIC MACAY. The afternoons of the same day would be devoted to Intensives with the Gurus and a Principals’meet.
Thereafter in the post-lunch session Shri Ram Lal, a fourth generation puppeteer would hold a Folk Puppet Show while Dr DR Purohit well known folklorist would present a slideshow on some of the fast disappearing Cultural and Folk Traditions of Uttarakhand.
Pasera, a threatened folk tradition of Uttarakhand, Sarangi by Shri Kamal Sabri and Odissi by Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh are slated for the same evening.
The evening slot of the same day is reserved for the screening of a documentary film by National Geographic titled ‘Skeleton Lake. Skeleton Lake unravels the mystery behind the hundreds of skeletons strewn around the Roopkund Lake at a height of over 16,000 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas. The Roopkund riddle started in 1942, when a forest ranger accidentally unearthed a mass grave in Roopkund Lake. The mystery of Roopkund has intrigued sociologists, historians and anthropologists including Dr Wiliam Sax who has resetrached extensively in Uttarakhand and ahs helped in the making of the film. The cause of this tragedy remains a mystery till now.
Day two of the Convention would include heritage and nature walks on the FRI campus, induction of new institutions into the movement, and would culminate in the vocal classical recital by Shri Ritesh and Shri Rajneesh Mishra.
Please note that the intensives with the Gurus include : Vocal Music, Tabla, Art, Folk craft, Pottery, Folk dance and Puppetry.
