Why in news:

• Lokrang Festival will be celebrated in Jaipur after a gap of 2 years.
• More than 650 artists from various states will perform during the 11-day Lokrang Festival 2021 at the Jawahar Kala Kendra.

Key Points:

• The event, organised by the state’s department of Art and culture and Rural Non-Farm Development Agency, will comprise a handicrafts fair and Rajasthani language writing festival.
• Shilpgram, a rural arts and crafts complex in Jawahar Kala Kendra, will host the handicrafts fair that is aimed at bringing artistic products and delicacies from across the country under one roof.
• Principal Secretary (Art and Culture) recently announced that Lokrang is Jawahar Kala Kendra’s popular annual event. This edition, it is bringing colours of folk arts. It will be celebrated with due COVID-19 protocols.The event was not held last year due to the pandemic.
• Apart from Rajasthan, artists from West Bengal, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will render various folk dance performances.
• Lokrang will offer visitors the taste of India and its vibrant heritage.
  
  
  
   

Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK)

• Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) is a multi arts centre located in Jaipur in India.
• It was built by Rajasthan government with the purpose of preserving Rajasthani arts and crafts.
• The centre has been made in eight blocks housing museums, one amphi theatre and the other closed auditorium, library, arts display rooms, cafeteria, small hostel and art-studio.
• It also houses two permanent art galleries and three other galleries. and host its own theatre festival each year.
• The design was prepared by the noted architect Charles Correa in 1986 and the building was ready in 1992.
• The plan is inspired by the original city plan of Jaipur, consisting of nine squares with central square left open.
• The Jawahar Kala Kendra adapts and applies concepts from ancient architectural principles called the Vastu Vidya.
• The centre is an analogue of the original city pIan of Jaipur drawn up by the Maharaja  Jai Singh the Second- a scholar, mathematician and astronomer, in the mid-17th century.
• His city plan, guided by the Shipla Shastras, was based on the ancient Vedic madala of nine squares or houses which represent the nine planets (including two imaginary ones Ketu and Rahu).
• Correa's plan for the Kendra invokes directly the original navagraha or nine house mandala.
• One of the squares is pivoted to recall the original city plan and also to create the entrance.