Sangeet Natak Akademi organized a festival and seminar on folk and traditional performing arts of Tripura, Lok Tarang, in collaboration with Directorate of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Government of Tripura. The festival was held from
31 May to 4 June 2006 at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan, Agartala, and was inaugurated by Shri Aghore Deb Barma, CEM, TTAADC. Shri Keshav Majumdar, Hon'ble Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Govt. of Tripura, was the Chief Guest. Shri Jitendra Choudhury, Tribal Welfare Minister was also present on the occasion. The morning programme comprised discussions/lecture-demonstrations which were attended by a large number of invited experts, scholars, observers and artists. Performances were held in the evening. Tribal music, dance and narrative forms related to many tribes in Tripura were presented
in the festival, including Tripuri Reang, Chakma Garo, Jamatia, Noatia, Mog, Kuki, Lushai and Darlong. There were also performances representing the Bengali, Manipuri and Muslim communities in Tripura and the traditional theatre of Dhub Jatra and Gambhira.

Discussions in the morning followed the previous evenings' performances. In the morning sessions, local scholars and experts presented their papers and explained technical aspects of the performances with demonstrations. Four experts from outside the State, Shri Prayag Shukla (Delhi), art critic and editor of Rang Prasang; Prof. Surendra Snigdh (Patna), poet and folklorist; Prof. N.K. Jain (Delhi) of the Department of English, Delhi University, folklorist; and Dr V. Jayarajan (Kerala), folklorist and a member of the
Akademi's Folk and Tribal Arts Committee, were invited by the Akademi. Observers from the Northeastern States including Ms. Papori Bora (Assam), Shri Lungten Khochilu (Arunachal Pradesh), Ms. Tashi Lamu (Arunachal Pradesh), Shrimati Juliet Salio
(Mizoram), Shri Lakhi Nath Baruah (Assam), and Shri Phurba Lepcha (Sikkim) also witnessed the evening performances and participated in the seminar discussions. Programme follows:

31 May

Jari dance (Muslim community dance) by Motinagar Cultural troupe, Bishalgarh; Garia dance by Jamatia community, Symphony Cultural Team, Teliamura; Dhamail dance by Dhamail group, Dharmanagar; Musuk Sumani by Khowai Champasuwar Lokaranjan Sakha; Bizhu dance by Kanchanpur Bizu dance group; Lai-Haraoba dance by Narayan Khamar Lokaranjan Sakha, Tripura; Hozagiri dance by Reang Hozagiri group, Shantibazar.

1 June

Arati dance (Dhamail dance) by Nritya Pradip group; Garia dance (Jamatia community) by Hing Swang Bodo group, Amarpur; Sakra dance by Malshum Community, Udaipur; Dhamail dance by Manju Sarma & her group, Gandacherra; Cheraw dance by Lushai community, Kailashahar; Karampuja & Holi dance by Munda Community; Gangharou dance by Bishnupriya Manipuri Nityangan community; Baul songs by Pinto Das, Dharmanagar; 'Nimai Sannas' (Dhop Jatra), folk theatre by Brajendra Nagar, Loka Ranjan Sakha.

2 June

Bengali folk dance by Nalanda group; Folk instruments recital by Uttam Das and group; Tangbiti, Shikrha and Shikrhi Tangtho
Maani Khom Bagan dance (Jhum dance) by Rupini Nritya; Garia dance by Koloi community; Dhamail dance by Dhamail group, Dharmanagar; Wariar dance by Garo Community, Balaram Charaa; Anurolnai dance (Jhum cultivation dance) by Halam Community; Bijzu dance by Kanchanpur Bizu dance group; Jari dance (Muslim community dance) by Motinagar Cultural Troupe, Bishalgargh; Garia dance of Jamatia Community by Symphony Cultural Team, Taliamura; Radharaman Bhajan (Dhop Jatra), Traditional folk theatre by Jairam Sanstha, Sadar.

3 June

Bengali folk dance by Nrityan Khowai; Rikifatoi and Changrote folk dance by Darlong Community; Garia by Jamatia Community; Lai Haraoba dance by Manipuri Chorus; folk songs and Baul Kirtan by Jairam Sanstha, Agartala; Jhum dance by Malson Lok Nritya group; Baul songs and traditional folk songs by Pinto Das and group; Goria dance by Shiv Shambhu Kolai Naveen; Gajir Pot (Potar Gaan) by Loka Rajan Sakha.

4 June

Speech by Shantanu Das; Hozagiri dance by Reang Hozagiri group, Shantibazar; Hunting dance (Musuk Sumani) by Khowai
Champasuwar Lokaranjan Sakha; Bana Nungsi dance by Bishnupriya Manipuri Community, Kamalpur; Bengali traditional folk dance by Manju Sarma with her group; Jhum dance by Chitra Mallika Chakma group; Goria dance by Sathi Debbarma group; Wangalla dance by Balram Garo Cultural group; Mailoma Khunkma dance and Bu Sukna Bwchoi Thang Mani dance by Rupini Community; Gajan dance by Nattyasri Jatra shilpi Samobai Samiti.

Seminar
1 June: ‘Tribal Dances of Tripura' by Shyamlal Deb Barma; ‘Garia: The Folk Dance of Tripura' by Dr Padmini Chakraborty.

2 June: ‘Hozagiri: A Wonderful Expression of Balance in Rhythm' by Uma Shankar Chakraborty; ‘Folk Song of Kokborok: Jaduni or Jadukolija' by Shyamlal Deb Barma.

3 June: ‘Lai Haraoba Festival' by Bikram Singha; ‘War Dance' by Uma Shankar Chakrabory; ‘A Brief review of Folk Music'
by Hemanta Jamatia.

4 June: Paper by Dr Padmini Chakraborty; ‘Muslim Dances' by Mohd. Mohajir Rahman.