Govt hopes to hold ASEAN music festival in city
CM , Paul to visit Japan to attend cherry blossom festival
Shillong, April 7: Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the government hopes to hold an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) music festival in the city.
He was speaking to reporters on the concluding day of the third edition of ASEAN- India Artists’ camp held at Tripura Castle Hall, on Monday.
The minister also informed that he and the chief minister will visit Japan shortly for the Cherry Blossom Festival in that country.
Japan was the partner when Meghalaya organised the Cherry Blossom Festival in November last.
Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, also addressed the event, emphasizing the role of art in strengthening India-ASEAN cultural ties
The paintings created during the camp will now be exhibited in New Delhi and Malaysia, extending the cultural dialogue beyond Shillong
Paintings created by 21 artists from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and India were displayed. Over ten days, these artists engaged in collaborative work, drawing inspiration from Shillong’s landscapes, cultural interactions, and artistic exchanges.
Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, in collaboration with Seher, AIAC has been a key initiative under India’s Act East Policy
Margherita, said, “The camp shows the strong cultural and artistic links between India and ASEAN nations. Art has real power, it connects people. Through this effort, we are strengthening ties that matter, building a foundation for our countries to grow closer.”
Reflecting on the camp’s success, Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder-Director of Seher, said, “As the one who dreamed up this camp, I’ve watched it evolve into something extraordinary. Over ten days, I saw these artists from across borders dive into Shillong’s culture, challenge each other’s ideas, and produce works that pulse with life”.
With the conclusion of the camp, the artists return to their home countries with new perspectives, experiences and memories, reinforcing India’s engagement with ASEAN nations through arts.
