Bollywood actress and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, made her maiden speech in the Parliament on July 25th, bringing attention to the alarming decline of Himachal’s tribal music and folk art. She expressed her concern over the ‘extinction’ of these valuable cultural traditions, highlighting the need for immediate action to preserve them.
In her speech, Ranaut spoke about the diverse art forms of Mandi, emphasizing the danger of their disappearance. She pointed to the traditional construction technique known as ‘kath-kuni’ and the use of sheepskin for creating clothing like jackets, caps, shawls, and sweaters. While these items hold high value in international markets, their production and use are waning within India, prompting Ranaut to call for urgent measures to revitalize these practices.
She also focused on the fading folk music of Himachal, particularly the tribal music of Spiti, Kinnaur, and Bharmour, urging the central government to prioritize their preservation. Ranaut questioned the steps being taken to safeguard these vital elements of Himachal’s cultural heritage, stressing the need for proactive intervention to prevent their complete loss.
Following her speech, Ranaut took to Instagram to share her experience, expressing her pride at having the opportunity to raise the concerns of Mandi in the Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh High Court issued a notice to Kangana on Wednesday, responding to a petition filed by a Kinnaur resident seeking to overturn her election victory. The petition alleges that the resident’s nomination papers to contest the Lok Sabha seat were improperly rejected. Justice Jyotsna Rewal directed Kangana to provide a response by August 21st.
Kangana Ranaut secured her victory in the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, defeating Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh by a significant margin of 74,755 votes. She received a total of 5,37,002 votes, compared to her opponent’s 4,62,267 votes.
