SAARC Folklore Festival

The President of NFS Prof. Tulasi Diwasa, Vice President Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi and Secretary General Prof. Dr. Churamani Bandhu were invited and participated in a seminar on December 6-9, 2007 organized by Foundation of SAARC writers and Literatures, SAARC Apex body in collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India held in New Delhi.

There were about 50 participants from eight different countries, six from SAARC (except Bhutan and Afghanistan) and two from Europe (Estonia and Finland). Twenty-six papers were presented in the eight sessions, among nine sessions including inaugural session.

Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi chaired one session in the seminar and Prof. Tulasi Diwasa was the Special Guest in Valedictory session. They also presented their papers.

The former Prime Minister of India V.P. Singh was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session while Prof. Kapila Vatsyayan delivered the keynote address.

 

Monograph Release on The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal: Future Directions

The monograph entitled ‘The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal: Future Directions’ has been released in a programme organized by UNESCO at Patan Museum on December 18th 2007. The monograph was written by Prof. Tulasi Diwasa, Prof. Dr. Churamani Bandhu and Mr. Bhim Nepal. The monograph is published by UNESCO.

The book is organized in six chapters which includes the information on living cultures and heritages of Nepal and recommends the further steps to be taken in the field.

Prof. Diwasa focused on the need to formulate the appropriate cultural policy which should include all the ethnic groups and their languages and cultures and said that living cultural heritage should be preserved. He also emphasized that the the language and culture as the most important things acquired by the mankind.

Honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prithvi Subba Gurung informed that Government of Nepal has made commitment to sign on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage within 2008 and working for National Cultural Policy to be formulated within this year.

Director General of the Archaeology Department, suggested to pay the attention on the fact that nationality and identity are related to the culture thus community’s active involvement needed to preserve and promote the culture.

Chairperson Satya Mohan Joshi pointed out the need of preservation of the festivals, customs etc. as with the material heritage while the chief of the Department of Archaeology Bhim Nepal threw light on UNESCO convention, 2003.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, Jalkrishna Shrestha, Bhim Lal Gurung of National Commission Nepal for UNESCO, National Program Officer of UNESCO office at Kathmandu Tap Raj Pant, also spoke on the different aspects of the preservation of living cultural heritage.