INDIA FESTIVAL BEGINS AT BHUTAN
Festival of India
to further strengthened eternal friendship and bonds of cooperation
between India and Bhutan began at Thimpu in Bhutan yesterday.
The six-month long festival was inaugurated by Minister of State
for External Affairs, Shri Vinod Khanna, followed by Shehnai recital
and Kathak presentation by well known artists. Organised by the
Department of Culture, Government of India the festival will give
a focussed glimpse of the vast heritage as well as contemporary
dynamism of Indian culture.
During the festival
spectacle of folk songs and dances from various regions of the
country directed and choreographed by Shri Bansi Kaul will be
presented by folk artists. People of Bhutan will have opportunity
to taste well known cuisines during the event. Some of the popular
dishes will be prepared at the food stalls enabling the visitors
to learn the recipe and technique. The food festival is being
organisd by Indian Tourism Development Organisation.
Popular mainstream
films with renowned starts and internationally acclaimed popular
Indian films as well as national award winning films will also
be screened during India festival. National award winning craftsmen
from Indian will work with leading craftsmen from Bhutan during
the week-long workshop. The Exhibition of Indian Handicrafts,
sale and live demonstration by crafts persons together with craftsmen
from Bhutan during the festival will enable each other to understand
the nuances of art, traditions and design as well as culture of
each other as a part of the festival.
Joint Weavers
Workshop, Exhibition of traditional handloom products, exhibition
of scientific advancement and paintings by Indian masters will
also be presented at the festival. Seminar on Nalanda-Interface
of Buddhism and Environment will be one of the unique features
of the festival. It will be attended by renowned scholars from
the two countries.
