A Living Mosaic: Celebrating the Cultural Soul of Northeast India

Written By: Aishwarya Sabnis

Edited By: Khooshi Jajoo

The Department of Liberal Arts at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bannerghatta Road Campus, recently hosted Libernium 2026, an international conference on “Northeast India at the Crossroad: Culture, Inclusion and Sustainable Future.” Alongside academic deliberations, the conference featured a cultural showcase that felt less like a formal event and more like walking through a living, breathing map of Northeast India. From vibrant stalls and rhythm-filled performances to the aroma of traditional food, the space transformed into a celebration of identity, memory, and resilience, bringing often-marginalised voices of the region to the centre stage.

Northeast India comprising Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura is home to extraordinary cultural diversity and ecological wealth. Yet, despite its rich traditions in music, textiles, cuisine, crafts, and festivals, the region is frequently sidelined in mainstream national discourse. Rooted in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the conference sought to challenge this marginalisation by foregrounding culture as a vital pillar of sustainable and inclusive development.

The cultural performances held at the Auditorium Entrance between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM formed the heart of the celebration. Each performance was more than entertainment, it was storytelling in motion. Assam’s folk dances and songs reflected agrarian rhythms and collective joy, while Mizoram’s graceful Mizo folk performance highlighted community harmony and spiritual depth. Meghalaya’s cultural performance echoed the region’s strong oral traditions, and Sikkim’s folk presentation brought forward narratives of nature, faith, and continuity.

The Meitei folk musical instruments and cultural dance from Manipur stood out for their intricate coordination and deep spiritual symbolism, blending music and movement into a powerful cultural expression. Tripura’s cultural performance added another layer to the mosaic, showcasing traditions shaped by centuries of cross-cultural interactions. Nagaland’s soulful folk song carried themes of ancestry and belonging, while Arunachal Pradesh’s folk performance celebrated the region’s close relationship with nature and indigenous belief systems. The inclusion of the Christ Choir beautifully bridged tradition and contemporary expression, reminding the audience that culture evolves while remaining rooted in identity.

Beyond the stage, culture came alive through participation. Traditional games, hosted by Ms. Pinky Sarkar, invited students and visitors to engage directly with indigenous recreational practices, emphasizing community bonding and shared heritage—values often overlooked in modern urban life.

The exhibition and stalls (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM) were a visual and tactile delight. Showcasing handlooms, handicrafts, and indigenous art from Mizo, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur communities, the stalls highlighted the craftsmanship passed down through generations. Each textile, motif, and artifact told a story—of land, labour, identity, and sustainability. These stalls subtly reinforced an important message: sustainable development must protect cultural livelihoods just as much as it promotes economic growth.

Equally compelling were the food stalls featuring cuisines from different parts of Northeast India. From fermented flavours to earthy spices, the dishes reflected ecological wisdom and local resource use. Food here was not just nourishment—it was cultural memory served on a plate, fostering dialogue and curiosity among attendees.

Adding a contemporary touch was the photo booth curated by the Arts & Decor Team, Liberal Arts, which blended traditional aesthetics with modern design. It became a popular space for capturing moments, symbolizing how heritage and youth culture can coexist and thrive together.

In essence, the cultural segments of the conference successfully fulfilled its broader objectives: amplifying indigenous narratives, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and reimagining sustainable futures rooted in diversity. By bringing Northeast India’s cultural practices into the spotlight, the event reminded us that development is incomplete without cultural justice—and that preserving identity is as crucial as building infrastructure.

This was not just a showcase of culture; it was a statement. A statement that Northeast India is not a peripheral region, but a vibrant centre of knowledge, creativity, and resilience—one that holds invaluable lessons for inclusive and sustainable development in India and beyond.