ABOUT US

North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala was inaugurated on 6th November 1985 by the then Prime Minister of India. This centre has been registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Main objective of this cultural centre is to preserve, innovate and promote the projection/dissemination of arts of the zone to develop and to promote the rich diversity and uniqueness of various arts of the zone and to upgrade and enrich consciousness of the people about their cultural heritage. North Zone Cultural Centre also aims at laying special emphasis on its activities on the linkage among various areas through evolution of styles and their contribution to the larger composite identity of cultural heritage of India to make special efforts to encourage folk and tribal arts and to frame special programmes for the preservation and strengthening of vanishing art forms in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Jammu And Kashmir, Ladakh and Chandigarh.

Although, there is variation in the cultural activities of the participating sates yet there runs a common bond of shared heritage through them. We begin with the land of the Ladakhis, the Buddhist people are famous for their mountains, their monasteries, their music and their exquisite attire. A little below on the lush green hills and valleys of the Kashmir, live the people famous for their beauty, their skill in producing the most delicate crafts and weaves and their cuisine. From Ladakh, not only the geography, the religion, the language change, but the race itself changes. Coming downwards to Jammu, the Dogra people have their own language- Dogri. They are mostly Hindus and are proud of their miniature paintings, music and dance.

On the high imposing peaks of Himachal Pradesh, a land famous for temples live gentle traditional people, who sing and dance, free and pure as the mountain air itself. The bright multicoloured and bordered shawls and pattus, the Himachali cap and cascades of silver jewellery make the Himachali stand anywhere.

Uttarakhand is the state with cultural tradition. It is land of pious Ganga and important religious centres situated on its banks. The state imparts a special colour to the Indian culture with the arts, crafts, dances and rich musical notes.

The swirling twenty meter skirts and the sparking odhanis of the girls and tall handsome men spell Haryana. With fertile and tilled by hard working people, it’s famous for its potters, its needlework, colourful costumes and its colourful dances.

Punjab, the cradle of one of the most ancient civilizations, is inhabited by hard working people who sing and dance with gay abandon whenever the mood takes them. The Punjabi bhangra needs no introduction the world over, and the dhol is the largest drum in India.
Rajasthan- the land of legends, bravery and colour- has different tribes spread all over its hugs expanse, each with different costumes, different costumes, different songs and dances and skills in tie and die, printing, patchwork, jewellery making, carving, pottery, etc.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh has special characteristics merging the traditions and cultural heritage of all these states and it is hub of cultural activities for all the incorporating states. Chandigarh popularly known as “The City Beautiful” has a cosmopolitan outlook, which really represents the bond of a shared cultural heritage of the constituent states.

Headquarter:  Virsa Vihar Kendra, Patiala

Sub-Office:  Kalagram, Manimajra, Chandigarh