28 Apr, 2014
Festival of India launched in China
24-April-2014, Ministry of Culture – The Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture Mr Ravindra Singh here today launched the logo, posters and webpage for the Festival of India in China which will be celebrated from May 2014 to March 2015. The same were simultaneously launched in Beijing by Mr Ashok K. Kantha Ambassador of India to Beijing.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ravindra Singh said that pursuant to the mutual understanding reached during the visit of the Chinese Premier Mr. Li Keqiang to India in May 2013 and that of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to China in October 2013, the year 2014 was designated as the India-China Year of Friendly Exchanges. As part of the Year of Friendly Exchanges, Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in Beijing, along with the Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, are organizing the Festival of India in 12 cities in China.
A 75 member Indian delegation led by Secretary Culture would be visiting China in the first two circuits beginning May 7, 2014.
The Festival of India in China covers a wide-range of events showcasing Indian performing arts, exhibitions of modern Indian art, visual and photographic exhibitions on Buddhist heritage of India and its links with China, food festivals, and film festivals, as well as events involving eminent Indian and Chinese scholars and writers. Business and tourism promotion events will also constitute key components of the Festival.
Ministry of Culture Institutions namely Kalakshetra Foundation, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Sangeet Natak Akademy, Kathak Kendra, National Gallery of Modern Art, Sahitya Akademy would be participating in the Festival’s events. In addition the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Ayush and the Ministry of Tourism would be participating in the Film Festival, Yoga Festival and Food Festival.
The Events
The Festival of India in China will be celebrated in 4 circuits, circuit 1 covering Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing and Chengdu, Circuit 2 will cover Beijing, Kunming, Dali and Shenzen; Circuit 3 will cover Lhasa, Urumqui, and Hangzhou and Circuit 4 will cover Chongquing, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The classical dance program of Kalakshetra will cover the following: Krishna Leela, Kolkali, Suppada, Excerpts from Meenakshi Vijayam, Kalinga Narthanam and Thillana. The Sangeet NAtak Akademy would be presenting a new composition by senior choreographer Mrs Madhavi Mudgal comprising of six dance forms representing the diversity of India’s culture Bharatanatyam of Tamil Nadu (and the rest of southern India); Kathak, preeminently the dance of northern India; Odissi, from Odisha in eastern India; Manipuri from Manipur, the north-eastern State of India; Kathakali of Kerala at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula;
The Logo for the Festival of India in China
The colorful logo designed for the Glimpses of India Festival consists of a Kathakali and a Beijing Opera mask side by side. It has been chosen to depict the Indian and Chinese cultures that are shown to be seamlessly blending into one another, thus mirroring the long tradition of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The left side of the logo is a Kathakali mask from the classical Indian dance tradition that originated in Kerala. The right part of the mask derives from world famous Beijing Opera – a vivid embodiment of Chinese performing art.
While the Kathakali dance involves delicate use of hand and eye gestures to communicate, masks in Beijing Opera symbolize different characters and emotions. This convergence of elements from great art forms of the two countries reflects the centuries-old civilizational contacts between India and China. Encompassed within a circle, a symbol of perfection, and with Indian and Chinese colors and motifs symbolizing happiness and celebration, the logo represents the spirit of cooperation and harmony underlying the ‘Glimpses of India Festival’.
The Poster for Festival of India in China
Two posters for Circuit 1 and Circuit 2 have been released indicating the Festival’s events.
The Webpage for the Festival of India in China
The Ministry of Culture has created a dedicated webpage http://indiaculture.nic.in/FOI for the Festival of India in China. The webpage covers event schedule and the updates as also photographs and video links.
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