11th Delhi International Arts Festival opens with a bang

Delhi International Arts Festival, India's Signature Festival, has placed the country on an International cultural map. The 11th edition of the festival, opened at the magnificent Purana Qila on November 11 and will continue till November 25. It is recognized as the 'India Festival' and a platform for cultural diplomacy and cultural tourism.

The program was started with lamp lighting and many dignitaries like Sujata Prasad, Additional Secretary, Chung–Kwang tien from Taiwan and Deputy chief of mission cultural from Russia were present at the ocassion. Around 26 Countries and 1500 artists from around the world are participating in this festival this year.

Celebrations started with spellbound performance of Vande Mataram; a multi-style dance performance that combines the concept of meditation, yoga, music and dance in one seamless production that pays homage to our motherland – Bharat. The act was choreographed by Prathibha Prahlad. It was followed by 'Who Dinks There?' – a contemporary dance By TAI Body Theatre from Taiwan, 'Dance to Fly' – a fusion dance from USA and Taiwan, Bolshoi, 'Laugh to Cry' – a contemporary fusion dance directed by Felix Mikhailov from Russia and lastly, 'AL Menya' – a folk and Dervish performance from Egypt also enthralled the audience.

One of the major highlights of Delhi International Arts Festival 2017 will be the celebration of silver jubilee of ASEAN-INDIA Partnership at Qutub Minar at the closing ceremony which will feature artistic border guards group from Vietnam, a traditional dance and music performance from Bangladesh, Sumatera Dance Troupe from Indonesia and Baihana Trio from Philippines.

In addition to all of these exciting performances are "Balinese Wayang" – puppet dance by Indonesia and "Wayang Kulit Dalang"– a shadow play by Malaysia and many other performances by UK, Norway, Thailand, Portugal, France, Egypt, Argentina, Hungary and Ireland.

Artists will be visiting almost 18 schools during the day to address and harness young minds about the beauty of arts. National Museum and National Archives will see the visit of hundreds of children so as to familiarise them with the world of heritage, legacy and culture.

Film festivals, children's events, high energy performances with rich diversity will mark the 11th edition of DIAF. The festival is organised in collaboration with the Ministries of Culture, Indian Council for Cultural relations and the Govt. of NCT of Delhi.

Delhi International Arts Festival is unique in itself as it includes all genres of music, dance, theatre, puppetry, poetry, literature, visual arts, films and exhibitions from the most traditional to the most contemporary expressions. Several embassies, foreign governments, cultural centers, international cultural managers, and artists from all around the world constitute the Delhi International Arts Festival every year. This 15-day celebration of art and culture, is hosted by Forum for Art beyond Borders and Prasiddha Foundation.

The coming week will see persian and vietnamese film screenings, giving an ode to women through traditional dance performances, Pt. Krishna Ram Choudhary on Shehnai and much more.