Invitation to singer Mika at Tarpa Mahotsav draws flak

SURAT: The decision of the administration of the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to invite playback singer Mika Singh to Tarpa Mahotsav, a three-day tribal festival starting from December 26 in Silvassa, has attracted lots of criticism from the locals and in the social media.
People in social media have asked the administration not to spend lakhs of rupees on Mumbai artists and singers and instead use the money for developing toilet and drinking water facilities for the tribal people.
Tribal activists said Mika Singh will be paid lakhs of rupees while tribals performing Tarpa dance will just get Rs 400 per person. The 12 Tarpa dancers, who are from Bildhari village in D&NH, do not have toilets and have to walk long distance to reach Silvassa, they added.
Bhikhu Bhimra, a tribal activist and former sarpanch of Khanvel village, told TOI, “Tarpa Mahotsav is being held for the last 15 years, but the tribals in D&NH have not benefited from it. There are no basic facilities in the 70 villages in the Union territory. The administration instead of spending Rs 50 lakh on Mumbai singer should use the money in constructing toilets and roads and providing drinking water facilities to the tribals.”
Tarpa dance is performed by the tribals during marriage and other ceremonies. A group dance, performed on the beats of ‘dhol’, Tarpa is the only source of entertainment for the community. The dance helps to bridge the gap between different people and maintains a healthy relationship among the community members. However, younger generation is not interested in it. Every year in December, D&NH’s tourism department organizes Tarpa Mohatsav to attract tourists to the region.
“Tarpa Mahotsav is a promotional event to attract tourists to Dadra and Nagar Haveli. I agree that we are spending money on the artists, but ultimately we are doing this to promote the Union territory as a tourism hot spot, showcasing its tradition and culture,” says Ramesh Verma, secretary, tourism department, D&NH.
Verma added, “Mika Singh is an established singer. We have to pay him his fees. We are also paying Tarpa artists. This time we are promoting Tarpa Mahotsav in Surat and Valsad too, which are our partner cities.”