A colorful cultural extravaganza – The New Indian Express

Express press service

After two years indoors, there is a sense of freedom to finally be out in the open and interact with people. We were glowing with joy when we visited the Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Red Fort Festival on Monday evening. August 15th Park (Lahori Gate) is the venue for this event and hosts makeshift stalls and a giant Ferris wheel. The 10-day extravaganza, which was unveiled on March 25, is a celebration of India’s rich cultural heritage. As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, an Indian government initiative to commemorate 75 years of Indian independence, it highlights the country’s diverse trades, cuisines and more.

The Ministry of Culture conceptualized this event with Dalmia Bharat Limited, the organization selected as the “Mitra Monument” of the Red Fort by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India. Divided into five sections, this festival offers visitors a healthy experience of “Bharat”.

parade dancers

best of all
In addition to food stalls under the “Khao Gali” section which offers Indian cuisines, the festival also has a section called “Khel Gaon” especially for children. ‘Satrangi’ is a section reserved for around 70 artisans, with stalls showcasing Sozni embroidery from Kashmir, horn and bone handicrafts from Rajasthan, Ikat from Telangana, and more. Vankar Ramesh Virji, a generational Bhujodi weaver from Bhuj-Kutch, shared, “It’s great that artisans can showcase their work here without paying for stalls. Seline Fernandez from Dwarka, who was browsing the stalls here, shared, “It’s great for anyone interested in craftsmanship to meet artisans face to face.”

Interactive storytelling
Just as the stalls attract visitors interested in crafts, the festival also offers exhibitions and performances for culture enthusiasts. One of these interactive exhibits is the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ which showcases India’s achievements. Visitors might also be interested in the ‘Yatra’, an immersive 360-degree experience telling the story of India as one of the oldest civilizations. The experimental project attempts to modernize oral narration. Rohini’s Ananya Jain, who was at the festival with her parents on Monday, said: “’Yatra’ was one of my favourites; it is a different way to get information about the country.

There’s also a cultural parade – it circles the festival grounds once a day – choreographed by classical dancer Maitreyee Pahari. It highlights the folk dance forms of India such as Singhi Chham from Sikkim, Ao Naga dance from Nagaland, Kalbelia from Rajasthan among others.

Every evening, the Rang Manch stage is animated by live performances featuring several artists. Notable musicians such as playback singer Shaan, contemporary folk musician Raghu Dixit and others have performed here before.

CHECK IT OUT
WHAT: Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Red Fort Festival
WHEN: Until April 3; 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
WHERE: August 15 Park, Fort Rouge

HIGHLIGHTS TO WATCH
WHAT: Cultural Parade by Maitreyee Pahari
WHEN: Every day; 4:00 p.m.

WHAT: Bharat Gaurav and Yatra exhibitions
WHEN: Every day; from 4 p.m.

WHAT: Anokhe Vastra: Puppet Theater by Dadi Pudumjee
When today; 20:00

WHAT: Nizami Brothers Show
WHEN: April 1; 9:00 p.m.

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