UP To Celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary Of Tribal Hero Birsa Munda With 6-Day Festival

To celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, the government of Uttar Pradesh is planning special events. In collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh, they will organise a week-long ‘Janjati Bhagidari Utsav’ from November 13 to November 18. Here is everything you need to know about the event. 

UP To Celebrate The Birth Anniversary Of Birsa Munda With Special Events 

Birsa Munda was an Indian tribal independence activist from the Munda tribe. He hailed from Jharkhand and led the Munda Rebellion in the late 19th century against the British and their oppressive policies that targeted tribal people. In short, he was a hero. Every year on November 15, ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ (Tribal Pride Day) is celebrated in his honour.

As per a report by The Indian Express, the Uttar Pradesh government will organise a week-long celebration from November 13 to November 18 in collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh to mark the 150th anniversary of Birsa Munda. This Birsa Munda Jayanti will be celebrated with special exhibitions showcasing tribal textiles, art, cuisine, dance, and culture from 18 states. The main programme will be held in Lucknow. But the celebrations don’t end there; special events are also planned in UP’s Sonbhadra district. It will be attended virtually by PM Narendra Modi. UP CM Yogi Adityanath will also attend the event. 

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Celebrating Tribal Heritage

The UP Folk and Tribal Culture Institute are coordinating the celebrations. The six-day festival in Lucknow will bring together several folk artists and craftsmen. Stalls at the event will also feature tribal cuisines from across India. Meanwhile, the Sonbhadra event will see participation from nearly 20,000 tribals from different parts of the country. Expect tribal dances, painting stalls, and much more.

The celebrations are being organised by the UP Tourism and Social Welfare Department under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative, with Arunachal Pradesh as the partner state.

UP Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh shared with The Indian Express that the festival celebrates the cultural unity of tribal societies. Birsa Munda is revered among tribal communities not just as a hero but also as a divine leader. To honour his contribution, the Central Government declared his birth anniversary as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ in 2022.

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This event not only raises awareness about Birsa Munda but also highlights the uniqueness of India’s tribal communities.

Cover Image Courtesy: Birsa Munda, Wikipedia/ Manoj Nav