Amar Mahal Palalce Museum, Jammu
As a mark to honor and revive the rich traditions and multifaceted culture of Jammu region, an impressive three-day
festival, ‘The Tawi festival of Art and Ideas’, shall be celebrated at the prestigious Amar Mahal Museum Complex, Jammu, from 25th to 27th February 2023. This three-day festival shall be the first of its kind in the region and anticipated to be held annually to celebrate creativity, inclusiveness, tradition, and modernity.
Conceptualized by Dr Jyotsna Singh, Director Amar Mahal Musuem, and put together by an entire team of artists, art historians and Heritage experts from the region, this innovative festival is a progressive effort to celebrate creativity, inclusiveness, tradition, and modernity by bringing an eclectic amalgamation of art, music, culture, literature and stimulating ideas. These inter-disciplinary expressions will also be a first step of its kind to invite people from outside the region and introduce them to the thriving heritage and progressive minds that this place has to offer.
Chief Guest invited to inaugurate the festival is Dr Karan Singh, a renowned elder-statesman and philosopher, as well as the son of Sir Hari Singh, the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The inaugural event is a beautifully descriptive presentation themed ‘The things which we do not see’ given by Prof. B.N. Goswamy on the Nala Damayanti paintings featured in the Amar Mahal Museum collection.
Reputed for its evocative colors, bold lines, and the deep-set facial patterns, the demonstration and display of Basohli and Kangra miniature paintings, contemporary art and sculpture, traditional and classical music and dance are going to be other experiences for visitors to the festival at the picturesque landscape of the beautiful Amar Mahal, overlooking the Tawi river. The key highlights of the ongoing exhibition during this festival shall be the display of traditional costumes of the Dogra Maharanis, Tara Devi Ji and Yasho Rajya Lakshmi Ji at the Maharani Suite, Amar Mahal. Another exclusive feature of this upcoming festival will be the showcasing of rare books from the collection of Raja Amar Singh dating back to the early 19th century.
Prominent names attending the festival are Vinita Dawra Nangia, Festival Director of the renowned Times of India Fest, Ravi Singh, publisher, Speaking Tiger, and Rakesh Kumar from the Department of Glass and Ceramics at NID Ahmedabad.
The festival is being organized in collaboration with Jammu University, Natrang theatre and FICCI FLO, Jammu. Each day of the festival shall have gala dinners for visitors and participants hosted by the erstwhile Royal family with rich cuisine and culinary delight of the region.
