Raipur: A three day National Tribal Dance Festival was inaugurated on Thursday at Raipur. Tribal artists from seven countries as well as those from 27 Indian states and six Union Territories will participated in the National Tribal Dance Festival in Raipur.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren inaugurated the event; Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel presided over the event. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a short message extended his best wishes to the cultural event.

Chhattisgarh is hosting the festival where Indian and international tribal artists and folk dance troupe will take part in unique cultural shows, rituals and traditions. Over 1,500 members representing the diverse tribal ethnic communities are taking part in the event.

The daily tribal dance show will begin from 9 am and will continue till late evening. The event will exhibit the varieties of costumes, crafts and jewellery designs, food cuisine and much more related to lives and traditions of the tribal communities. On the first day the folk artists from Uganda, Nigeria and Palestine along with the tribal groups from the north-east enthralled the spectators with their charming performance.

Soren praised Chhattisgarh for its innovative initiative on preserving, safeguarding and promoting the culture of the tribals on the occasion. This is not just the dance festival but also recognising the tribals with high regard, with a 32% tribal population, Chhattisgarh has one of the largest presences of tribals in the country, he said.

Chhattisgarh CM Baghel said that the event is unity in diversity is our identity and strength. It’s the second edition of the Tribal Dance Festival. We wish to create Chhattisgarh as a world forum for the tribals.