India's first national tribal festival 'Vanaj', featuring around 900 artists across the country, began here on Friday.
The five-day event is being organised by the government to conserve and promote the distinctive cultures of the tribal by providing them a national platform.
Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram urged media to given them adequate coverage.
"Artists have come from far flung areas. I request friends from the media to give them adequate space so that they also feel that they are also a part of Indian cultural and traditional heritage," said Oram.
The carnival will run till February 18, showcasing the rich diversity in tribal art and culture while various music and dance forms tribal cuisine being special attraction.
Tribal products, medicines, paintings, art and handicrafts will be put on sale at an exhibition.
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Approximately 900 participants from Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal would be participating in the event.