Sri Vijaya Puram, February 8 The administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has organized a festival to celebrate the traditional "Phaag" music.
Artists from the archipelago captivated the audience with folk music that narrates stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Krishna Leela.
"The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are like a mini India, where you can find diverse cultures and traditions. The administration aims to protect and promote all such traditions and provide a platform for their growth," said Director of Tourism, Vinayak Chamadia, at the event held on Saturday evening.
"It also aims to recognize and promote the original Phaag traditions and songs of the islands, which date back to pre-independence times," he added.
A large number of local people and tourists experienced the vibrant folk musical tradition.
"Our aim is to revive and preserve a rare folk tradition that is now gradually fading, while offering both residents and tourists an authentic glimpse into the islands' living cultural legacy," said Rohit Mohan Lal, general secretary of the co-organizing Kalapani Phaag Mandali.
Phaag is a traditional form of folk songs that was introduced to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands before the year 1900 and is closely associated with the festive period from Vasant Panchami to Holi, he said.
"The festival reflects the rich social and cultural fabric of the islands and has been an integral part of community celebrations in the past," Lal added.
He also thanked Ratan Bihari Lal, a veteran Phaag singer who is 80 years old, for training youngsters on this form of traditional music for many years.