Zones defined by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India
The Cultural Zones of India are seven overlapping zones defined by the Ministry of Culture[1] of the Government of India to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of various regions of India.[2] Each of these zones has been provided with a zonal centre.[3] Most zonal centres were announced by the then-Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1985 and formally began functioning in the 1986–87 period. Their stated goal is "to strengthen the ancient roots of Indian culture and evolve and enrich composite national culture".[4]
The city of Kolkata, formerly the capital of British India and West Bengal, is also known as the "Cultural Capital of India."[5][6]
The zones
Each zone has a zonal headquarters where a zonal cultural center has been established.[3] Several states have membership in multiple zones, but no state subdivisions are utilized in the zonal divisions. In addition to promoting the culture of the zones they are responsible for, each zonal center also works to cross-promote and create exposure to other cultural zones of India by organizing functions and inviting artistes from other zones.
Cultural Zones of India (India)
Zone
|
Zonal Centre
|
Extent
|
North Culture Zone
|
North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, Punjab
|
Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand[7]
|
North Central Culture Zone
|
North-Central Zone Cultural Centre, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
|
Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand[8]
|
East Culture Zone
|
East Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal
|
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal[9]
|
North East Culture Zone
|
North East Zone Cultural Centre, Chümoukedima, Nagaland
|
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura[10][11]
|
South Culture Zone
|
South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
|
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana[12]
|
South Central Culture Zone
|
South-Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra
|
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana[13]
|
West Culture Zone
|
West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Rajasthan
|
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
|