The 8th edition of Global Kokan Festival 2019, hosted by Kokan Bhumi Pratishthanat Mumbai Exhibition Center, Goregaon (E) from January 3 to 6, 2019 is all set to bring in the New Year with hoards of musical dance dramas, folk art, art walk, food festival and much more.
Sanjay Yadavrao, chief convener, Global Kokan Festival shares, “Global Kokan Festival has always been bringing the traditional art forms of Kokan region to a bigger. Food, Art, Drama have been a integral part of community building in the region and we at Global Kokan Festival 2019 aim to keep this tradition alive and bring it to a larger and modern audience as the festival gets bigger and better this year”. The festival is co-hosted in association with MTDC & MIDC.
Highlights of Global Kokan Festival 2019:
- Folk Dance offs, Jakhdi & more
Kokan Folk Dance Competition or ‘LokNrityaSpardha: 200 artists across Kokan will be coming together for a major dance off at the ‘LokNrityaSpardha’ hosted at GKF 2019. Various dance troupes will be performing on folk dances right from Tarpa Dance, Jakhdi Dance, Naman, Koli, Agri and many more.
- Traditional Folk plays
Global Kokan Festival 2019 will also play host to traditional folk plays like Dashaavatar, a series of skits from famous stories from Mythology. Filled with songs, dance, and drama, it appeals to all age groups. Dashaavatar is a quintessential drama from Kokan region which has been performed in the region from long time ago. Along with Dashaavatar, folk plays of forms like Jakhdi and Palkhi will also be staged at periodic intervals on all four days.
- Kokani Kavi Sammelan
Popular poets from Maharashtra willbe coming together for a poetic evening. Ashok Naigaokar, Dr Mahesh Keluskar, Prof. Prashant More and ShashikantTirodkar and several other known poets from Maharashtra will be gracing the lyrical do.
- Art Walk & Live Demonstrations
Another highlight of the four-day festival is the art walk, and Live demos by renowned artists from Kokan at the festival to attract masses. Curated by noted artist Rupali Madan, the festival will have Live demonstrations on pottery, block printing, ceramic enameling, folk art, tribal terracotta & metal jewellery workshop, abstract painting, Gond Art, Ganjifa Art, portraits and landscape paintings.
- Global Kokan Art Installation with Warli Art
Renowned artist and noted set designer Sumit Patil will be exhibiting a huge Kokan themed art installation with warli art from Palghar District. The installation will depict the various aspects of Kokan and its growth and will establish the idea of ‘Unity’ through this eight ft broad installation. The installation will create a dialogue with tribals from palghar belt about their livelihood issues.
- Kokan Delicacies & organic farm produce
Besides the traditional folk dances and plays, ‘Kokan Food Festival’, is the most integral part GKF 2019. The festival will have a whole range of favorite foods from Kokan, right from various fish delicacies, to delectable Sol Kadhi to traditional desserts to satiate all the culinary needs of the people visiting the festival. Masses can also buy directly from the organic farmer’s bazaar at the festival. Varieties of authentic Cuisine like Agri, Koli, Malvani, Kokani, CKP, Authentic Marath Moli Ghavane, Mutton, and Chicken along with Maharashtrian specialities like Ukdiche Modak, Puran Poli with 15 types of Misal with Veg Misal& Non veg Misal, authentic veg Rassa Ghavan and more to satiate your taste buds.
- Educational workshops & more
The festival will also provide a platform to natives of Kokan to stop selling lands and cultivate them or use them in a better way. Workshops on Fish Farming and Aquaculture, Advanced Agriculture and Horticulture, Building Eco-Tourism Parks, Amusement Parks etc.
Started by Kokan Bhumi Pratisthan, Global Kokan Fest is the brainchild of Yadavrao who wanted to give a global platform for the Kokan region where its beauty, business opportunities, culture, food will be on display. Global Kokan Festival is a small step where many Government and Non-Government initiatives are going to be implemented in future so that tourist and businesses should arrive from all over the world to this region. Global Kokan Fest has the support of several government and non-government agencies.