Every year in October, tribal communities from different areas display their arts and crafts at the Dima Jatra cultural festival which takes place at the Dima tea gardens in West Bengal. In 2015, people celebrated 60 years of the Dima Jatra festival.
"Participating teams are welcomed in the field with joy. After that, we all see the programs together. Cultural programs are held with the playing of Madal. Songs are sung according to the season. Everyone dances to the rhythm of tribal songs."
"We have to take this culture forward but due to modern education tribal people are moving away from their culture. To save this culture we have to go forward with our language and literature. We have to organize cultural programs and give our children encouragement. Today's generation have almost forgotten their cultural sentiments and roots. So in my opinion, they have to come forward. They have to recognize it and know it."
"The field be full of crop and their plate be full of food, they pray to the motherland. The festival goes on from morning to evening and from evening to midnight. At last, everyone goes home."
This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent Harihar Nagbanshi.
Community Correspondents come from marginalized communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ They give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.
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