Surat (Gujarat) [India]: recently played host to Tapi Utsav 2024, a grand celebration of art and culture organized by Tapi Trust in collaboration with Concept Medical and Anupam Rasayan India Limited. The festival, held at the Science Centre from the 7th to the 11th, brought together residents in a jubilant atmosphere.
Each day, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, the Science Center buzzed with a diverse array of events encompassing theater, film, poetry, conversation, music festivals, and Gyan Goshthi. The sixth edition of Tapi Utsav featured talks, movies, and exhibitions, all centered around the theme “Crossover,” sparking discussions on societal transformation.
Highlights included the screening of the Gujarati film “Hoon Hunshi Hunsheelal,” directed by Sanjiv Shah, and a poignant talk by Sharif Wijliwala on the tragic account of division.
On February 8th, the festival continued with a talk by Kamalika Bose, followed by the screening of Anamika Huskar’s captivating film ‘Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Jaa Riya Hoon’ at 3:00 pm. The day concluded with a speech by renowned social activist and writer Mital Patel at 5:00 pm.
The 9th of February featured a presentation by Rajendra Tiku, a screening of Shishir Jha’s film ‘Tortoise Under the Earth,’ and talks by Sanghamitra Desai and Surendra Gadekar. The evening showcased Anubha Fatehpuria’s play ‘Kagaz Ke Gubbare’ and the performance of ‘Prem Ramayana.’
Ajitpal Singh’s film ‘Fire in the Mountain’ premiered on February 10th, followed by a talk by actress Ratna Pathak Shah, a poetry recital by Nidish Tyagi, and a vocal recital by Vidya Shah. The day concluded with Jyoti Dogra presenting ‘Maas’ at 9:00 pm.
The festival’s last day featured presentations by renowned photographers, poetry reading by Yagnesh Dave, and a stand-up comedy performance by Punit Pania at 6:30 pm. The grand finale included a musical performance by the iconic band Indian Ocean.
In addition to these performances, Tapi Utsav featured events promoting traditional crafts under Kalaviti and various workshops, contributing to hands-on learning. Since its inception in 2014, Tapi Utsav has grown to become a major cultural event, comparable to urban festivals in major cities, bringing together diverse minds, philanthropists, organizations, volunteers, and citizens.
