Fifteen days of the finest artists, musicians and theatre actors come together to enrich the capital
(28thOctober to 11th November, multiple venues)
New Delhi, October 28, 2014: Palpable excitement, glitter and creative energy marked the Opening of India’s iconic festival of the arts – Delhi International Arts festival against the breathtakingly beautiful Purana Qila Monument in New Delhi.
It seemed like the auspicious Sounds of Vedic Chants cleansed the atmosphere and brought sacredness to the Opening Ceremony. Thereafter, Chief Guests Union Minister Smt. Maneka Gandhi, veteran BJP MP Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and Secretary- Ministry of Culture Shri Ravindra Singh, lit the sacred Lamp and marked its formal Opening.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Gandhi said, “It is indeed a happy moment for all of us present that Delhi International Arts Festival is taking place. The enormous work done by Prathibha Prahlad and her team has borne fruit and DIAF is now recognized as India’s Festival of the Arts. It is time that Indians took pride in their culture and the arts and passed on this invaluable heritage and culture to the future generations.”
Senior MP, Dr. Joshi commended the efforts of the organizers and said that any effort in the field of culture should be supported. “We are a culturally rich society. In pursuit of material happiness, we should never discard our cultural roots. The fissures in our society appear only when we move away from our roots,” he said.
The Asvara Dance Company from Malaysia set the stage on fire. The distinctness of Malaysian identity that transcends borders of race, religion and genres was showcased in their repertoire. Kazakhstan’s ‘Gakku’ Groupe a well-known Folk Dance Troupe from the northern province of Kazakhstan pleased the audiences with a feast of grace and beauty and a firework of emotions. The dancers and musicians from Turkey were the last to take the stage.
Speaking on the occasion, Festival Director, Prathibha Prahlad said that Delhi International Arts Festival was unique as compared to major international festivals in the world, with respect to its encompassing all art forms of all genres, thereby being non-judgmental and non-bourgeoisie. “I believe that aesthetics can never be compartmentalized by forms or controlled by Countries,” she said. “Therefore we place traditional, folk, classical, contemporary forms together and invite the audience to enjoy the beauty and diversity of all these art forms.” While thanking all the supporters of DIAF in its journey over the last 8 years, she said that “Ministry of Culture and ICCR deserved special thanks. DIAF is plagued by acute funds crunch and is on a respirator and only GOD and the Government can give it a fresh leaf of life and make it flower,” she said.
Exciting, innovative and breathtaking in variety and diversity, the 8th Delhi International Arts Festival will encompass every form of art from folk, tribal, classical and contemporary from all over India and the world. Artistes from about 14 countries, including Pakistan, Iran, USA, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Israel, Chile, Malaysia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Canada, Kazakhstan & Russia will perform in the cultural extravaganza on schedule.
DIAF caters to all tastes and all age groups. Large folk contingents will perform alongside cutting edge contemporary artistes from around the world. Theatre – folk & contemporary, Sufi music, classical, folk, contemporary dance, world music, classical music, exhibitions, poetry, film shows will form the cultural rainbow that will be available for free to the lucky audiences.
Maria Kong Dance Company from Israel, an extravagant dance theatre production from Czech Republic, a diverse spread of Indian classical dance & folk theatre by renowned artistes at Meghdoot Theatre, world music at Habitat Amphitheatre & Azad Bhavan, Lady Macbeth in Kathakali style, Sufis & Fakirs from Gorbhanga, Bengal, Qawwals from Pakistan & India, a socially motivated Pakistani play “Guddo” on child sexual abuse by MAAS Theatre from Lahore, western classical music from Hungary & the Czech Republic, poetry, painting, tribal crafts and looms , film shows and the list goes on.
Delhi International Arts Festival will include a specially curated North East Festival at IGNCA, Janpath, which will see youth icons like Ash King, John Abraham and Mary Kom participates.
Delhi Arts Festival social initiative has a fine line-up of performances specially curated for ‘women and children”. The two plays at NSD – ‘A Woman Alone’ by the Kolkata based Padatik group and ‘Untold Stories’ ,by a Mumbai Theatre group aside, a powerful play “GUDDO” is being staged by the MAAS Theatre group from Lahore, Pakistan. This play engages the audience with issues relating to child sexuality and child sexual abuse. Puppetry and Film shows are also lined up for children from marginalized sections of society.
On the occasion, Satish Mehta, Director General, ICCR, said: “ICCR is delighted to be associated with a festival like DIAF that is not just a highly feted festival nationally, but a very prestigious cultural event internationally. It gives us great pride to support an event that transcends boundaries of culture and draws talent from across the globe and across genres.”
Entry is free & on first come first served basis.
For detailed calendar, log on to www.diaf.in & follow the Festival @ LoveDIAF and FB page.