Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the importance of preserving the state’s classical music, folk arts and theatrical traditions during the ‘Dharohar’ programme held to mark the foundation day of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi in Lucknow on November 13.
Congratulating the Akademi on its 63rd anniversary, the Chief Minister praised the young artists who performed using endangered musical instruments. He called for the revival and preservation of these instruments and folk arts, emphasising that the country’s cultural heritage should be maintained as a source of livelihood, identity and pride for future generations.
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“I felt very good that our young artists, what a magnificent presentation they gave here through those endangered musical instruments. We all know this: within India, music has never been just a medium of entertainment. Rather, Indian wisdom has chosen music as a medium for the expression of the soul and as a path for the worship of the Supreme. You all know that the ultimate mantra of spiritual practice in our tradition begins with the primal Omkara,” he said.
Yogi Adityanath also noted Uttar Pradesh’s contribution to Indian classical music through the traditions of Lucknow, Banaras, Agra, Kirana, Rampur, Sahaswan, Shahjahanpur and Etawah, which have provided distinct styles and identities. He cited great gurus such as Pandit Birju Maharaj and Guru Lachchu Maharaj for elevating Kathak dance to global acclaim.
He emphasised that the continuity of performing arts depends on generations of artists and gurus. “Even when an artist appeared alone on stage, their performance was backed by years of practice, the blessings of a guru and the experience of generations,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister attributed the survival of India’s cultural identity to the country’s Sanatan culture handed down through generations. He warned that cultural neglect leads not only to the disappearance of art forms but also to the loss of significant chapters of society’s identity.
“Cultural neglect does not only mean the disappearance of certain arts, but it also means the disappearance of some important chapters of identity along with them. And therefore, taking pride in our heritage and the resurgence of cultural consciousness alongside development — this is Prime Minister Modi’s mantra that he gave to the people of India during the Amrit Mahotsav of India’s independence,” he said. “If we want to fulfil the vision of a developed India, we must feel proud of our heritage, and we must prioritise the resurgence of cultural consciousness alongside development.”
He added that pride in India’s heritage and culture was a legacy promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the country was recognised worldwide for its folk arts and culture. The state government has implemented this vision by establishing heritage hubs in Kashi, Ayodhya and the Braj region.
Referring to the Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya, Yogi Adityanath noted the event’s global attention and media focus. “You must have seen that Uttar Pradesh is a very large state. It has been continuing its journey since even before India’s independence. But Uttar Pradesh becomes the centre of attention only when Deepotsav is organised in Ayodhya, and the whole world gazes at it and watches it. You must have noticed that for two days, only Uttar Pradesh remained dominant in the Indian media. This is a program to advance India’s cultural heritage. Dev Deepawali in Kashi will be held on Karthik Purnima, November 24th,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the goal should extend beyond preserving endangered art forms to making them sustainable sources of livelihood and pride for future generations. He highlighted the success of the ‘One District One Product’ initiative, which has increased Uttar Pradesh’s exports to 200 billion rupees and provided employment to millions of artisans and young people.
“Just a few days ago, ‘One District One Product’ had already been creating a buzz across Uttar Pradesh for the last nine years. Through ‘One District One Product’, we have taken Uttar Pradesh’s exports to 2 lakh crore rupees. It is working as a means of employment for millions of young people and millions of artisans and craftspersons,” he said. He also pointed to the potential of the ‘One District One Cuisine’ initiative.
Yogi Adityanath stated that initiatives would offer new artists opportunities to perform in accessible public spaces without traffic congestion, allowing wider audiences to appreciate their work. He praised the young performers who used endangered musical instruments at the programme, affirming that India’s cultural heritage was in safe hands for the future.