The annual National Bal Rang event in Bhopal

Staff Reporter

The National Bal Rang event in Bhopal continues to bring pride to Madhya Pradesh, as children from across the country showcase their talents while embracing the cultural diversity of their respective states. The event, which began on Friday, saw over a thousand children from various divisions of the State, as well as different regions of the country, participating in the colourful celebrations. Professor Amitabh Pandey, Director of the Indira Gandhi National Museum of Humankind, expressed his thoughts at the inauguration, emphasising the significance of the event in fostering creativity and unity among the younger generation. He noted that the annual gathering of children brings a vibrant energy to the museum, with the three-day celebration offering a platform for the young participants to showcase their skills. Pandey highlighted how the competition encourages teamwork, which plays a key role in nurturing responsible citizens for the future. He further mentioned that the unity of the country is strengthened by the harmonious blending of various state cultures. Prof. Pandey also advised the children to build friendships with peers from different states, fostering a spirit of unity.

He congratulated the School Education Department for organising the event. Director of Public Education, D K Kushwaha, stated that Bal Rang ignites new energy in children. He announced that the theme for the exhibition at this year’s event, in alignment with the Vision 2047 of a developed India, would focus on India’s future progress. Arvind Kumar Chougarre, an official from the Education Department, added that on the first day, children from different divisions of the state would present folk dances and various other cultural programmess based on local traditions. The event, taking place on December 21 and 22, will witness participation from around 10,000 children across 17 states and 5 Union Territories. In addition to the performances, the event features a range of activities including a scout camp, live exhibitions focusing on Vision 2024, and stalls offering a variety of regional foods. A unique aspect of the Bal Rang is the cultural representation through state stalls, where the traditions, festivals, ancient sites, and costumes of different regions are on display. For example, the Kerala stall, organised by girls from Kasturba School in Bhopal, features a model of the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple, along with displays of Kerala’s traditional customs, including the celebration of Onam. The event also includes competitions such as speeches, folk songs, classical dance, light music, group folk dances, literary and cultural contests for differently-abled children, Vedic recitations, dance dramas, and yoga. The festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 5 pm on both December 21 and 22.