Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has emphasized the need to pass on our inherited culture in all its richness and variety to our future generations. Inaugurating the cultural festival of the North-Eastern States, ‘Octave, 2006’, Prime Minister Dr. Singh stressed that preservation of cultural diversity as is equally important as preserving biological diversity.

Referring to the need to create a favourable environment for the cultural traditions and practices to flourish, Dr. Singh stressed the need to encourage our youth to keep these skills and creativity alive and robust. “We then ensure the survival of our handicrafts, our handlooms, our traditional art, our dance forms and our music. Through our collective commitment to these core cultural values, let us make a thousand orchids bloom in the valleys of these fascinating states”, Dr. Singh added.

Stressing the need to maintain cultural diversity, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that our efforts should be to create a favourable environment for the cultural traditions and practices to flourish. In our march towards progress and prosperity, our cultural riches are national assets that make us proud, beautiful and connected. We should encourage our youth to keep these skills and creativity alive and robust. We should also ensure the survival of our handicrafts, our traditions, dace and our music. “Through our collective commitment to these core cultural values, let us make a thousand orchids bloom in the valleys of these fascinating states”, he said. Underling the richness of culture and heritage of North-Eastern States, he added that there is no better way to safeguard them, than providing opportunities for performance.

Ambika Soni, Minister of Tourism and Culture, presided over the function. She said that the festival - OCTAVE signifies the participation of the eight states of the North-East. It also signifies a musical note and conveys harmony through the folk and classical dances, music, theatre, cinema, visual arts, literature and cinema of the North Eastern states. Minister of Tribal Affairs and DONER P.R. Kyindih and Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang were also present on the occasion.

A composite choreography of music, dance, drums and martial arts by 150 artists from the eight states of the North East specially conceived by the Sangeet Natak Academy was presented on the occasion.

More than 600 artists from different streams of art forms, ranging from folk, tribal, and traditional music and dance, theatre and pop groups and bands  participated in this cultural extravaganza. Film festival, art exhibition symposium and poetry readings form an integral part of this cultural milieu. Sangeet Natak Academy, Sahitya Akademy, Lalit Kala Academy, National School of Drama, East Zone Cultural Centre, North East Zonal Cultural Centre, Directorate of Film Festivals, (I&B Ministry) took part in the festival and made it a huge success.

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