Shillong, August 12: Lok Bhavan, Shillong, will be opened to the general public on August 15 and 16 to mark the 80th Independence Day of India.
The Lok Bhavan will remain open from 1.30 pm to 8 pm on August 15 and from 11 am to 8 pm on August 16. Entry will be free.
Visitors will be able to attend cultural performances by artistes and troupes from different parts of the country. The programme will feature Rajasthan’s Bhawai and Kalbelia dances, along with Dogri, Kashmiri, Gojri and Pahari dances from Jammu and Kashmir.
Karnataka will be represented through Bharatanatyam and a cultural troupe from the Karnataka Sangha, Mandya. Performances showcasing the traditions of Meghalaya’s Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities will also be held.
A military band from the Assam Regimental Centre will add to the patriotic celebrations.
The two-day programme will also feature exhibitions on agriculture, floriculture and horticulture, besides displays of artefacts, manuscripts, handicrafts and other works of art. Food stalls offering local and other popular cuisines will also be available.
The Lok Bhavan premises will be illuminated in the colours of the national flag during the evenings.
