As a sequel to Octave 2006 held in Delhi during March 2006, showcasing the performing arts of the North- East, Octave 2007 was organized from 18 to 25 February 2007 at Shilpagramam Complex Hitech City, Hyderabad. The festival was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in association with Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, North Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, South Zone Cultural Centre and the Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Apart from the dance, music, theatre and art of the North-east, the crafts, cuisine and costumes of the North-eastern India were presented to visitors. The music of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim
was also the main attraction of the event.

The festival was inaugurated by Dr Y.S. Rajsekhar Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on 18 February 2007 at Mountain Heights, which has a picturesque background. A gorgeous stage was set up to hold about 250 artists representing various
performing groups participating in the festival. Shri K. Jayakumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, welcomed the Chief guest who inaugurated the festival by beating the giant drum. Different groups presented portions of their main performances in a
beautiful sequence choreographed by Maitreyee Pahari.

The festival was aimed at showcasing the art of North-East, with special emphasis on different streams of performing art forms, ranging from folk, tribal and traditional music, dance , theatre, and choral music. The festival drew large audiences from 18 to 25
February 2007 at two venues — Mountain Heights and the Amphitheatre. The concluding ceremony was held on 26 February 2007 where Dr J. Geeta Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh, presented mementos to the performing artists and
officials who had worked hard to make the event a grand success. The programme follows:

18 February

Inaugural Show (Mountain Heights) 7.00 pm

19 February

Ratnakar, play in Assamese, Dir. Gunakar Dev Goswami (Amphitheatre) 6.00 pm; Agni, choreographic work based
on Vedic, Manipuri and Thang-ta traditions. Choreography by Priti Patel (Mountain Heights) 7.00 pm.

20 February (Amphitheatre) 6.00 pm

Choral Music by choral groups of the North-east; Liandovate, play in Mizo, dir. M.S. Ralte.

21 February 2007

Music Ensemble by instrumentalists and vocalists of the Northeast (Amphitheatre) 6.00 pm; folk dances by folk dance troupes
from all the eight states of the north-east (Mountain Heights)

22 February (Mountain Heights) 7.00 pm

Jewels of North-east, Traditional and Contemporary Costumes of the North-east Show; Contemporary Music by Snow White
Band.

23 February (Amphitheatre) 6.00 pm

Classical dance performances by artists of the North-East: Gayan Bayan, Sattriya, Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Pung Cholam, Kathak,
Basant Raas.

24 February (Amphitheatre and the lawns) 3.00 pm

Traditional Folk Theatre: Dhulia Bhaona, Balan, Sumang Leela, dhub Jatra, Yak Dance.

25 February (Amphitheatre) 7.00 pm

Folk and Popular Music: Mayukh Hazarika & Laili Dutta Hazarika; Popular Music: Zubeen Garg.