Inaugural Ceremony and Cultural Highlights
The workshop opened with the ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by cultural presentations from EMRS students, including Dhemsa Dance (Odisha), Jaunsari Dance (Uttarakhand), Mizo Folk Dance (Mizoram), vocal folk music (Dadra & Nagar Haveli), and a patriotic song from Madhya Pradesh. Shri Ajeet Kumar Srivastava, Commissioner, NESTS, formally inaugurated the programme, reflecting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Master artisans conducted live demonstrations and interactive sessions on traditional and GI-tagged art forms, including Gond, Warli, Madhubani, Kalamkari, Pithora, Cheriyal, Rogan Painting, Bastar Dhokra, Kachchhi Embroidery, Pichwai, Aipan, Rangwali Pichhora, and Kangra, Basholi & Mysore art. Students learned about cultural symbolism, traditional motifs, and techniques, promoting creativity and vocational skills aligned with NEP 2020.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat in Action
The workshop brought together tribal students from different regions Northeast, Central, Western India, Himalayas, and Southern states. Through shared learning, collaborative art-making, cultural performances, and interactive sessions, students enhanced cultural appreciation, unity, and emotional integration, reflecting Prime Minister’s vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Indigenous Knowledge Exchange and Tribal Mainstreaming
Students engaged with traditional artistic narratives, symbolic patterns, folklore, and intergenerational wisdom preserved by master artisans. This knowledge-sharing supports tribal mainstreaming, empowering students to celebrate their identity while building creative, academic, and vocational competencies.
Closing Day Exhibition and Valedictory Ceremony
On 26 November, a live exhibition of student-created artworks was opened to visitors, featuring GI-tagged creations, traditional artefacts, and curated student counters. A total of 173 paintings created by EMRS students were sold. Ms Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, graced the ceremony, commending students’ dedication and encouraging future livelihood opportunities alongside academic focus. Cultural performances from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Madhya Pradesh highlighted the event’s vibrancy, and awards were presented to outstanding student artists and performers.
Public Engagement and NESTS Commitment
A live art workshop for visitors ran daily from 09:30 AM to 04:00 PM, promoting awareness about GI-tagged crafts. Students, researchers, families, and art enthusiasts attended the exhibition. NESTS continues its commitment to culturally rooted education, vocational skill-building, preservation of indigenous art, creative empowerment, and holistic development of tribal students.