JK Academy gears up for culture carnival in Kashmir Valley

The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has announced that it has lined up a slew of events in Kashmir to showcase the state's folk heritage beginning with a two-month long folk music and theatre carnival, which kicks off on May 4 at Pahalgam.
Buoyed by the successes of its activities in Jammu, the Academy has lined up a busy summer calendar of cultural and literary events in Kashmir, beginning next month.
Apart from the folk music and theatre carnival, which will move to different parts of the Valley, a drama festival too, will be held in Srinagar with performances by select theatre groups.

"Extensive events to celebrate Kashmiri folk have been planned in collaboration with the tourism department," Academy secretary Khalid Bashir Ahmad said today.
"Weekly local folk music and theatre performances mixed with ghazals and light music, will he held at places across the Valley (as part of the Academy's plan)," Ahmad said.
A similar proposal for Patnitop and Katra is awaiting approval from the tourism and culture department, he said adding, "alongside the extended cultural activity, the Academy will hold a drama festival at Srinagar."

There are plans to organise all-India painting and writing camps along with contests for children, Ahmad said.

For the first time, the Academy is looking at organising a terracotta sculpture camp at Srinagar, he said.
The Academy will also be holding an Urdu and a Pahari conference in Srinagar, Ahmad added.
Meanwhile, as it gears up for a summer choc-a-block with various events, the Academy today organised book exhibitions at Jammu, Srinagar and Leh on the occasion of World Book Day.
Rare books and manuscripts, besides a large number of the Academy's publications in several languages, were put on display at the two-day exhibition commemorating World Book Day.