Chandigarh, January 27, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Making a comeback after a gap of two years, the Republic-Day tableau of Punjab was a meticulous execution of rich heritage of traditional handicrafts and musical tradition of the state. It showcased the state as the land of knowledge and wisdom.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led the team in planning the exhibit, which was allowed after a gap of two years this year. The project finalisation started more than three months back. Secretary (Information and Public relations) Malwinder Singh Jaggi, accompanied by Joint Director Randeep Singh Ahluwalia and Art Executive Hardeep Singh worked out the detailing of the project.
A senior officer said, “Our tableau had four components — beauty of inlay art, traditional music, handicrafts and life of Baba Farid. The inlay art form borrowed from Hoshiarpur designed a pair of bullocks with a yoke in the fields, depicting the state’s agricultural legacy and the strong resilience of farmers. The exquisitely woven handicrafts were displayed in the classy hand embroidery phulkari form.
The tableau also showcased the rich musical heritage of the state, with a traditionally-dressed man holding a “toombi”(folk musical instrument) in his hand with a “dholak” and beautifully decorated earthen pots (“ghara”) and the images of “jhoomar” from Fazilka set in the background.
The concept of the tree and its settings used at the Dera of Baba Sheikh Farid, symbolising universal brotherhood, was borrowed from a serene Dera in Mansa district.
It is worth mentioning that in 2023 and 2024, the Centre did not accept the proposals sent by the Punjab Government that drew strong reaction from CM Mann, who accused the government of deliberately not selecting the Punjab tableau. The “so-called” rejected tableaux were later exhibited across villages in the state.
The state tableau has always stood out in the past. Punjab displayed a tableau of traditional ‘Jago’ in 2018, ‘Sangat Te Pangat’ in 2019, ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ in 2020, 550 Years of the Khalsa in 2021 and the “Freedom Movement of India’ in 2022.
Summary: Punjab’s R-Day tableau celebrates its rich heritage, portraying the state as a land of knowledge, wisdom, and cultural pride on the national stage.