State-level Dhamail Festival begins in Bishalgarh, Tripura, showcasing over 500 folk artists from all districts. The event highlights cultural revival, women empowerment, and government commitment to preserving traditional dance heritage.
A vibrant celebration of tradition, community, and women’s empowerment unfolded on Monday as the two-day State-Level Dhamail Festival was inaugurated at the Bishalgarh New Town Hall. The festival brought together hundreds of folk artists from across Tripura, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to preserving indigenous cultural expressions.
The festival was formally inaugurated by Social Education Minister Tinku Roy, who emphasized the importance of safeguarding traditional art forms like Dhamail, which hold deep social and historical significance in Tripura’s cultural landscape. The event aims to revive, promote, and institutionalize Dhamail as a living folk tradition, while also creating a platform for women artists who have been its primary custodians for generations.
Addressing a large gathering of artists, cultural enthusiasts, and local residents, Minister Roy recalled that the Dhamail Festival was first launched last year in Teliamura. According to him, the initiative was conceived as part of a broader cultural revival strategy to reconnect younger generations with folk traditions and to empower women through artistic recognition and public participation.
“Dhamail is not merely a dance form; it is a cultural language that reflects social harmony, collective memory, and the creative strength of women,” the minister said. He added that the state government considers Dhamail an essential part of Tripura’s cultural identity and will continue to extend institutional support to protect and promote it at district and state levels.
The festival witnessed the presence of several prominent dignitaries, highlighting its growing importance on Tripura’s cultural calendar. Higher Education and Panchayat Minister Kishore Barman attended the event as the chief guest and lauded the initiative for blending cultural preservation with community participation.
Bishalgarh MLA and Chairman of the Dhamail Festival Committee Sushanta Deb played a key role in organizing the event. Speaking on the occasion, he said Bishalgarh was proud to host the state-level festival and contribute to the preservation of Tripura’s folk heritage. He stressed that such festivals not only celebrate tradition but also strengthen social unity and intergenerational cultural transmission.
Among other notable attendees were Sepahijala Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Dutta, former Kamalasagar MLA Antara Sarkar Deb, Vice Chairman of the State Advisory Committee Subrata Chakraborty, and Sepahijala District Magistrate Dr. Siddharth Shiv Jasuval. Their presence underscored the collective administrative and political support behind the cultural initiative.
According to the organizers, more than 500 artists from 27 Dhamail groups, representing all eight districts of Tripura, are participating in the festival. The wide participation reflects the continued relevance and popularity of Dhamail across the state, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Throughout the two-day event, audiences will witness a series of traditional Dhamail performances characterized by rhythmic clapping, circular formations, and expressive storytelling. The performances showcase themes rooted in social life, seasonal change, collective joy, and women’s shared experiences, making the art form both culturally rich and socially meaningful.
Cultural experts attending the festival noted that Dhamail has historically served as a space for women to express emotions, solidarity, and creativity in a collective setting. In recent years, however, modernization and changing social patterns have posed challenges to the continuity of such traditions. Initiatives like the state-level Dhamail Festival are therefore seen as crucial interventions to keep the tradition alive.
The Bishalgarh festival also provides an opportunity for cultural exchange among artists from different districts, encouraging learning, innovation, and unity within the traditional framework. Organizers believe that sustained government support, combined with community involvement, can help elevate Dhamail from a local folk practice to a recognized cultural asset at national platforms.
| Also Read: Contractor injured in violent tender clash in Kailashahar |
As the performances continue over the next two days, the festival stands as a strong reminder of Tripura’s rich folk heritage and the enduring role of women in preserving and nurturing cultural traditions through art.
