New Delhi: CM Rekha Gupta announced a series of initiatives on Sunday aimed at promoting cultural integration and national unity in Delhi. These initiatives include the inclusion of local artists from various states in regional festivals, promotion of non-Hindi languages among children in Delhi and the launch of a Student Exchange Programme with other states.Gupta stated that the Department of Art, Culture and Languages can play a vital role in this endeavour by broadening the scope of its programmes and activities. “The department must take initiatives beyond designated locations and bring them to the general public to enhance public participation,” she said. She directed officials to ensure that regional festivals celebrated in Delhi include artists from the respective states, as this would help generate greater interest in these events.CM also stated that efforts will be made to explore possibilities for teaching non-Hindi languages to children in Delhi, enabling them to understand the social and cultural identities of other states. These directions were given during a recent meeting with the Department of Art, Culture and Languages, which minister Kapil Mishra also attended. The objective of the meeting was to enrich Delhi’s cultural landscape and to involve all sections of society.She also directed the organisation of events such as women’s art exhibitions, artist camps, music and dance festivals, theatre performances and religious celebrations like Chhath Puja and Durga Puja across the city to increase public participation. Highlighting Delhi’s diverse population, she emphasised the growing celebration of regional festivals.“Delhi is not merely the capital city but also a reflection of the country’s cultural identity,” she said. “We want the art and culture of various states to reach every street and for every individual to feel connected to it.” She added that theatre and folk arts are powerful tools for spreading awareness and information, often more effectively than other forms of communication.
