Nagaland University and the Government of Nagaland is hosting the 23rd National Convention of SPIC MACAY from June 15th to 21st.The chief guest Shri Mani Shankar Aiyer, Hon. Minister of Development of North Eastern Region and Panchayati Raj, lighted the lamp. The event was presided over by Prof. Kannan, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University. The Chief Patron Sh. Kateekal Sankaranarayanan, Hon. Governor of Nagaland and Patron Sh. Neiphu Rio, Hon. Chief Minister of Nagaland also graced the occasion with their presence. The inaugural performance was given by various folk dance music groups of North East which included Thangta, Pung Cholum of Manipur, Rikhampada of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihu and Conch of Assam, Bamboo dance of Mizoram, Wangala dance of Meghalaya, Children’s group from Naga Sumi tribe and Hozagiri of Tripura.

The first day events included elevating vocal recital by Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Carnatic violin recital by Mysore Brothers. The participants also enjoyed the spectacular light and sound show of North East.

The coming four days will witness inspiring performances by various eminent artists which includes Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Prof. T.N.Krishnan, Us. Fahimuddin Dagar, Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra and Us. Asad Ali Khan to name a few. Besides these performances, there are lecture demonstrations by Smt. Anjolie Ela Menon and Sh. Dadi Pudumjee; talk by Sh. Raghu Rai and screening of classical films directed by Satyajit Ray, Akira Kurosawa and Charlie Chaplin. Delegates are also learning from leading exponents such as Us. Abdul Rashid Khan(vocal), Sh. J. Gurappa Chetty(Kalamkari), Guru Ghanakanta Devi(Manipuri) and Su. Kapila Venu (Kutiyattam).

“Today we are linked up with the outward world through internet, television and mobile phones. This weeklong ‘Retreat’ will provide an opportunity to the young person to connect inwardly” asserts its founder Dr. Kiran Seth, professor at IIT Delhi.

“We feel privileged to be given this opportunity by SPIC MACAY to host the convention. Students in large numbers have turned up from all parts of the country to meet and spend some quality time in a true ‘Ashram’ atmosphere,” says Prof. Kannan, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University.

The convention has conceptual and organizational sessions, evaluations of the programs conducted, planning of upcoming VIRASAT series and charting out areas of future growth.

The convention is dedicated to Pt. Kishan Maharaj and shall hopefully live up to its expectations and serve the purpose it is meant for bringing all that is inspiring, abstract and most importantly

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Note to Editors:

About SPIC MACAY:

SPIC MACAY stands for ‘Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth’. It seeks to conserve and promote an awareness of this rich and heterogeneous cultural tapestry amongst the youth of this country through focus on the classical arts, with their attendant legends, rituals, mythology and philosophy and to facilitate an awareness of their deeper and subtler values.

SPIC MACAY has been exposing students to renditions of the best of our heritage by leading exponents in their respective fields. Growing acceptance, by both educational institutes as well as leading artists, has helped SPIC MACAY, grow into a nationwide movement in a short span of 31 years.

SPIC MACAY is essentially a students’ movement. It works through a nationwide network of students and volunteers. They meet weekly in all major cities to take the movement forward. Students participate actively, by organizing the concerts, arranging publicity and taking care of the artists. Apart from being able to understand the finer aspects of the art forms, students benefit immensely from the direct interaction with the artists.

SPIC MACAY does not charge admission fees to any of its events.

About National Convention:

National Convention is an annual event of SPIC MACAY which bring youth from the entire country at a common platform where they exchange ideas, share experiences and provide a way forward for SPIC MACAY and realizing its objectives. It provides the participants a platform for experiencing the performances by great maestros and getting an insight into the culture and music of India, its values and ethos The last convention was held at University of Jammu, was attended by 600 student delegates.

Travel arrangements to and from all prominent cities will be arranged by the respective SPIC MACAY chapters. The organization invites participation from school and college students as well as its active volunteers from different chapters in India and abroad.