It is an overwhelming experience to witness the massive grandeurs the CHIMERA leaves within the hearts of many. The 7th CHIMERA 2022 was organised with the support of Govt. of Assam under the Cultural Affairs Department, Dept. of Excise and Fisheries, Assam State Transport Corporation, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission, Panchayat and Rural Development and Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation and in collaboration with South Point School, Barsapara, Amrapali Magazine, Amrapali TalkArts, NEOS (North East Online Shop) and Cloud Momo along with the Mission Partners namely Priyamz Divine Dancers (Jorhat), Gurucharan College and Beenachchhandam Sangeet Mahavidyala (Silchar) and Monikanchan Kala Niketan (Golaghat).
Moreover, this year we organised and celebrated the 7th CHIMERA 2022 at various places like Silchar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Kamrup Metro (Guwahati). Encompassing various aspects of arts and culture at different levels amongst the school/college and University students as well as interest youth and ladies' categories was a massive task to accomplish. And these all with much more successfully completed with associated Mission Partners and team efforts.
Each individual report could be read in our other blog posts mentioned herewith.
The Cultural Extravaganza and Prize Distribution Ceremony was organised on December 4, 2022 at South Point School, Barsapara (Guwahati). It was a gathering filled with enormous energy of fun filling good thoughts and aesthetic spirit. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon'ble Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, Waterways and AYUSH, Govt. of India was the Chief Guest on the eve. Shri Biswajit Daimary, Hon'ble Speaker, Assam Legislative Assemble, Govt. of Assam and Shri Bimal Borah, Hon'ble Minister for Culture, Govt. of Assam were the Guest of Honour. The other dignitaries who shared the dias are Shri Krishnanjan Chanda, Principal, South Point School, Barsapara and Smt. Manisha Hazarika, eminent Assamese singer.
The guests' delightful speeches kept the spectators tight and with much enlightenment. The evening was painted with a rosy sunset effect assimilating a galore of happy smiling faces. Participants from Silchar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Guwahati were present to showcase their performances.
The AMRAPALI REPERTORY presented an exclusive musical dance ballad namely, the 'PANCHA MAHABHOOTA' based on the concept of five elements of life.
Concept and Direction: Rudra Jayanta Bhagawati
Choreography/Script/Costume: Pranaame Bhagawati
Music: Alaap Dudul Saikia and Rudra Jayanta Bhagawati
Production: AMRAPALI (Society for ARTS)
The students of the Amrapali Institute of Arts presented a beautiful Kathak dance recital on Teen Taal Shuddha Nritya with live music. The little dancers were Shanvi Giri, Adrija Paul, Vidhi Kejriwal, Mishika Deori, Anubhuti Borah, Jashnavi Biswas, Mitakshi Chowdhury, Saipriya Nandi Purkayastha, Aarohee Dawo and Wamiel Pranaame Kashyap. They were accompanied by:
Shri Shiv Giri and Shri Prasun Ghosh on Tabla
Shri Anand Dikshit on Sitar
Shri Khanjit Pathak on Vocal
Guru Smt. Pranaame Bhagawati on Bol Parhant
Along with these various other cultural presentations were performed by different groups.
A Sattriya dance was performed by the students of South Point School, Barsapara consisting of: Chandrali Kalita, Pritika Nath, Tejawsee Kashyap and Bristi Kalita.
A vocal recital was rendered by Mandira Bhattacharjee from Silchar.
A Sattriya dance recital by Monikanchan Kala Niketan (Golaghat) consisting of Kosturi Priya Dowarah, Pinakshi Priya Dutta, Sadhana Sangeet Bora, Anushka Kashyap, Bhagyasree Bora, Kashturika Saikia, Bhaswati Bora, Gayatri Hazarika, Aradhona Bora and led by Sattriya Guru Shri Bedanta Bikash Dutta.
A Sattriya dance recital by Jutika Kalita, Darshita Kalita and Tiyasha Bera.
A creative dance by Wamiel Pranaame Kashyap and Shristi Sharma from St. Francis De Sales School, Narengi (Guwahati).
Yoga presentation by Saif Yoga Centre (Guwahati) led by Dr. Saiful Islam including Tina Kalita, Nandika Hazra, Bristina Bora, Barnil Pratim Sarma, Kabyashree Kashyap, Tanmoy Sarmah, Sara Das, Anannya Roy, Ariyan Malakar, Sreya Sarma, Srimanti Paul and Risika Bharali.
A creative dance by Priyamz Divine Dancers (Jorhat) led by Priyam S B Baruah.
A drama by Natyam Dance and Acting Academy, Azara.
This massive annual event also honours individuals/organisations for their selfless contributions made towards society in their respective fields. The 7th CHIMERA 2022 honoured the following:
Shri Shyamkanu Mahanta: Eminent cultural activist and festival organiser promoting India's northeast and Assam at large
Smt. Barnali Sarma, ACS: Eminent social activist and beaurocrat of Govt. of Assam
Shri Dipankar Dutta: Eminent educational activist and founder of CEC (northeast India's largest computer education centre)
Smt. Mita Sen: Eminent Indian classical vocal artiste and founder of Sarada Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Guwahati
Shri Debatosh Nath: Eminent Indian classical dance artiste (Kathak) and founder of Beenachchhandam Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Silchar
Pt. Kalinath Mishra: Eminent and internationally toured Tabla player (Benaras Gharana), Benaras, Uttar Pradesh
Shri Alaap Dudul Saikia: Eminent music arranger/composer/director and widely worked in the Bollywood music industry.
The Prize Distribution Ceremony was a special charm of the evening as we honour the winners from various competitions who participated from various countries via online and offline modes in 40+ competitions like dance, vocal, instrumental music, mime, drama, recitation, creative writing, fashion show, etc. This year we also introduced five Amrapali Achiever's Awards and ten Amrapali Memorial Awards specifically dedicated to young and emerging talents to encourage them to pursue their respective art forms.
The CHIMERA is a platform created to energise artistic as well as aesthetic thought processes and invite legends and artpreneurs to spread their creative ideas and works as well as enlighten the ambiance with their presence. Felicitating some of the awardees of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Purashkar was a humble effort this time.
Coming to the end of this blog post and report of the 7th CHIMERA 2022, we thank and extend our gratitude to each one associated with us for their full support in conducting this grand event. Nothing can be achieved alone. A small effort becomes massive when people with good thoughts come along. Our love will always glitter for our participants for their faith in us and we are deeply touched by their supporting parents/guardians. We have a lot more to unfurl in the next Chimera. So, stay tuned and follow our social media handles!