Shillong (Meghalaya), Nov 24 : The Inaugural function of the Tri Hills festival held today, 24th of November 2023 at the Soso Tham Auditorium started off on the right foot with Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma commending the Arts and Culture department for their tireless efforts in promoting the unique culture of the Khasi, Jaintia and the Garo people of the state of Meghalaya along with its intricate components through the program.
In speaking on the importance of the Tri Hills Festival, Sangma said, “As a society, it is important that we remember our roots and our identity this should be inculcated and imbibed especially to our youth and coming generations as we are living in a world which is seamlessly connected globally through various advancements in technology and we might lose sight of who we are and where we come from. Hence, through initiatives like these, our government is trying to bridge the gap and remind us of our origins, practices and beliefs.”
He emphasized on the importance of documentation through various mediums whether it be print or other forms of electronic media so as to differentiates who we are from the rest of the world and it is important that we celebrate through initiative like the Tri Hills Ensemble to preserve and promote the richness of the cultures of our state. He further lends his support to the youth who would take up steps in the documentation process mentioned.
Commenting on the growth of the initiative, Sangma said,” I Congratulate the Arts and Culture Department for having successfully for the second time organised this Tri Hills Ensemble and from the looks of it, I can definitely see that it has grown and become much grander that what it was before and also understood that we have learnt a lot from the first event on the previous year and have made tremendous improvements.”
On speaking on the steps that the government has taken for promotion of the different aspects of Art and Culture of the State, “As a Government we came to the understanding that the different ministries and portfolios are closely connected to each other and have made sure that there is a convergence of various departments with a larger goal in mind. Hence, we have specifically made a conscious decision that the Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Textile portfolio should be held by one minister as they are closely interlinked since they project our unique culture as well identity and this in turn will merge with the overall strategy to promote Tourism.”
Also sharing his views in his keynote speech, Minister of Arts & Culture, Tourism and Textiles, Paul Lyngdoh quoted John Keats: “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.” as he emphasizes that there in no end to learning when it comes to Arts & Culture. He said that there are three major themes for the Tri Hills Ensemble which is Culture, Cuisine and Crafts.
In sharing Paul Lyndoh’s concluding remarks he added that it takes focus and grit to be recognized as a people consisting of the Khasi, Jaintia and people despite Meghalaya being in the most populous country. He further said that we as a state with and area of just about 23,000 Square Kilometers are in the hope to spread our culture and its components to the rest of the world just like how Bob Marley has spread the influence of Reggae music from a small nation of Jamaica.
The two-day Tri Hills Ensemble-a celebration of three hills Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos that promises to showcase authentic culture, crafts, cuisine, costume, delicacies and drama from the state will conclude on Saturday .
