Delhi plays host to northeast folk musicians

New Delhi, Aug.23 (ANI): The auditorium at India Habitat Centre came alive as hundreds of Delhites swayed to Naga folk tunes recently.

Rewben Mashangva, the Tanghkul Naga folk singer, gave an enthralling performance at the two-day event titled "Sounds of the Forest".

The event was organized to promote awareness about the rich folk music of northeast India, and it attracted a large number of visitors. part from Rewben other bands from different parts of the country also performed at the event.

"I have given my whole life to promote the folk music for the new generation because all the old culture is going day by day due to the arriving of the new life style so I want to bring it back again," said Rewben Mashangva, who hails from Nagaland.

Rewben is known as the King of Naga folk music, having reinvented a four-hole traditional Tangkhul Naga flute Yangkahui.

Rewben uses his own invented flute during his performances along with guitar and mouth organ. He has also modified another folk instrument "Tingteila" to suit the western tonal scale.

He believes that the Naga culture is extremely rich and a filmmaker from the northeast has made a documentary on his journey to success and how he works to promote the Naga culture.

The film "Songs of Mashangva" was conferred with the National Award at the recently held 58th National Film Awards.

Kiran Mehra, Director, said: The main purpose is to bring the life of the indigenous people because there culture, traditions are being lost. They have a very good cultural heritage using which they are making all kinds of music, handicraft but it is not being taken care of intelligently. So we are trying to give them the platform in public and give them a better deal."

Such events help people understand different cultures and traditions in other parts of the country. They also help the youth connect with their culture and traditions. By Themthingchon Y.R. (ANI)