ITV

Tag: Festivals of India

  • ‘Festivals of India’ to focus on Digital India & its gains: Culture Ministry

    ‘Festivals of India’ to focus on Digital India & its gains: Culture Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Digital India and its gains will form a highlight of the next round of ‘Festivals of India’ during 2015-16.

     

    The Culture Ministry has set the ball rolling for holding the next round of ‘Festivals of India’ abroad with Culture secretary Ravindra Singh holding a video conference with Ambassadors/High Commissioners of South Korea, Australia, Mauritius and Myanmar in this regard. Similar festivals have already been organised successfully in various countries like Malaysia, China, Indonesia, South Africa and Japan among others. 

     

    The secretary emphasised that social media should be utilised to the maximum extent possible. Discussing the details with the Ambassadors and High Commissioners, the secretary pointed out that these festivals can be used to showcase Indian art, culture, life and achievements.

     

    The Ambassadors and High Commissioners favoured the idea of projecting the face of modern India by showcasing the rise of Digital India and other modern technological developments in the field of space. They were also of the opinion of showcasing the journey of Indian civilization from 5000 years ago to the modern India. Singh shared the experience of the festivals held in other countries recently like South Africa and China and various themes of these festivals like Buddhism, Yoga, exhibitions on cricket etc. He also asked these countries to collaborate among themselves and schedule the activities in such a way that the artistic performances and exhibitions being run in a particular country can be presented in the neighboring countries too. Each country decides the events and themes of a festival. Ambassador to South Korea was in favour of festival theme based on Buddhism since it has a large Buddhist population.

     

    Ambassador to Myanmar emphasised that the Yoga and Ayurveda can be of special interest in Myanmar. Representative of Indian High Commission in Australia favoured the theme based on Tribal Art. The ambassadors were of the opinion that the states should also be involved actively in these festivals. 

     

    Senior officials of the Ministry of Culture and representatives from National Museum, National Council of Science Museums, National Gallery of Modern Art and other organizations involved in these festivals were also present during the Video Conference.  

  • Indian films in Festival of India in Lao PDR and 3 other south east Asian countries

    Indian films in Festival of India in Lao PDR and 3 other south east Asian countries

    NEW DELHI: Selected films from Bollywood are part of a three-day Festival of India in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic inaugurated today by the Lao Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara and Indian’s Culture Secretary Ravindra Singh in the capital city of Vientiane at the National Cultural Hall. 

    Speaking on the occasion, Singh said the Festival of India in Lao PDR would encourage people to increase India’s cultural ties with the south east Asian countries and deepen the historical bonds. He thanked the Lao Authorities for contributing towards the development of the Nalanda University. The South Zone Cultural Centre is the nodal agency for conducting the event. 

     

    Official level delegation talks were also held on a wide range of subjects between the two countries. The Indian side was led by Singh while the deputy prime minister and foreign minister Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith led the delegation of Lao PDR. 

    Indian Ambassador to Lao PDR Gururaja Rao said that the talks were cordial and constructive and India and Laos would seek to sign the Cultural Exchange Program in the coming days as also enhance people to people contact efforts. 

     

    Selected films of Bollywood would also be presented in the Festivals of India to be held in Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar.

     

    The films include Jodha Akbar, Dil Chahta Hai, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam etc. The film festival would be presented by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

     

    They will be part of the Festival being organised by the Culture Ministry. The Festivals of India in Cambodia would be held from 14 to 19 February. The Festivals of India in Vietnam will be held from 6 to 15 March and in Myanmar from 17 to 21 March.

     

    The Indian delegation to the Festivals of India led by Culture Secretary Ravindra Singh will have artiste delegation of 75 artistes.

     

    The two festivals would also comprise a Dance Festival of Classical Dance on Ramayana; a Buddhist Exhibition Dhamma Darshan presented by the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara; a Buddhist Mahotsava by the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies in Dahoo, Arunachal Pradesh; a Food Festival by the Tourism Ministry; and aMehendi Art and Yoga festival by artists from the South Zone Cultural Centre and Yoga teachers from the Department of Ayush.