Buddhist festival

A traditional Buddhist festival is just one of the many cultural attractions in store for those catching flights to India this summer. The annual celebration of Yuru Kabgyat takes place during the month of June at the ancient Lamayaru Monastery, which dates back more 850 years.

Known to the locals at Yuru Gonpa, this temple in the Ladakh region of Northern India was founded by monks from the Drikungpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. The temple's founder Nimagon visited the site on which it stands in 1143 AD and, upon seeing that the entire valley was full of water, he said "may a monastery be founded in this place", made offerings to the gods, and the water drained away.

Visitors to this sacred monastery are expected to give a small donation towards the upkeep of the building and the living expenses of the 200 llamas that call it their home. Later on in the summer, Buddhists in India will be celebrating the birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, who will be 76-years-old on July 6th.

Festival spreads India's culture

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Park was filled with India's cultural richness and diversity for Archana 2011 on Saturday for the festival, presented by the India Friends Association. There were many of India's culinary treats — such as Bhelpuri, a salad-type food, and Kulfi, Indian ice cream — and clothing and jewelry to purchase. "Today is a chance for the general public to come out and enjoy the Indian culture," said volunteer Madhu Bajaj. "Everyone here is a volunteer. We are here to support the cause."

Her son, Anshul Bajaj, 7, was looking forward to performing during the evening's Indian cultural variety show. "They are singing and dancing about hope," his mother said. Proceeds from the evening show in the Fred Kavli Theatre support projects in India "that empower the poor and create sustainable change," Bajaj said. "We hope to raise over $150,000." "We've practiced about three months and I'm really excited," Anshul said. "Today is a lot of fun. I've done this for three years."

During the daytime festival, there was free entertainment on the outdoor stage, exhibiting song and dance from India. Guests were invited to step up on stage to learn how to dance. "I'm performing on the outdoor stage today," said Sarandeep Sidhu, 15, of Moorpark. "I'm going to be doing Bhangra and a Bollywood dance. I love coming here to see the different Indian cultures and I want to learn more about my culture." For educational purposes, at the far west point of the grounds, a volunteer was explaining small scenes set up of an Indian village spring ceremonial, a rural kitchen and a wedding.

"The bride and groom have to go around the fire seven times to take their vows. Every time they go around, they promise one thing," said IFA volunteer Jyoti Sahai. "At the end of it, they are declared married. The entire family is involved and some ritual is assigned to every relative." Simi Valley's Madelyn Fajardo has been to India many times and said she is drawn to the food. "I came out here today to see the things they have for sale and taste the wonderful foods. I'm buying a necklace already."

"I'm looking forward to tasting some spicy Indian food," said Bill Koth, who brought his family from Ventura. Delilah Orloff from Simi Valley was at one of the Indian shirt booths. "I'm having trouble deciding which one and how many," she said with a laugh. "These are beautiful. I brought my whole family. This is going to be a fabulous time. We're going to eat, we're going to shop and it's a beautiful day." The Mundle family is in California, on vacation from India. They are visiting their relative, Jayshri Sharma, in San Jose and traveled to Thousand Oaks for the festival because Sharma's daughter was in the evening show.

"I am surprised to see something like this," said Mikhil Mundle. "This has a mini-world of India all in the same place. It is difficult to find all these cultures and languages all in the same place even in India." Volunteer Susan Seats from Camarillo has been to India eight times. "I volunteer because after having gone so many times and the people were so nice to me, I saw such poverty there that I wanted to come back and do something. The first time I went there 20 years ago, I met Mother Teresa and did some volunteer work there."

"I was just driving by and saw this, so I stopped to look at all the different traditions and cultures of India," said David Church. "That gentleman over there was explaining to me the different temples and areas of India." "A lot of love and commitment goes into something like this," said Kailash Narayan, president of India Friends Association. "It doesn't happen by itself. This is an outpouring of support from the community volunteers. They come year after year."

Start of Vaisakhi festival

Celebrations have already begun in Coventry and will culminate on Sunday 24 April with a parade which up to 10,000 people are expected to attend. Vaisakhi marks the start of the Sikh new year, the creation of Sikhism and the harvest festival in India. The day, which began with early-morning prayers at the city's temples, continues into the evening with food and celebrations.

Gurdeep Shergill, executive member of the Guru Nanak Parkash temple, said: "We're very lucky because all communities along the parade give food and refreshments, so everybody's welcome to come and join in. "What we do like to think is that it's for the whole community. "We like to get everybody involved, that's one basis about the Sikh religion.

"We have a lot of non-Sikh members volunteering and helping out." The parade, also known as Nagar Kirtan, will begin with a donation ceremony. Money raised on the day will go to British charities. It will be led by five Sikhs in traditional dress with others playing drums to announce the parade.

The route begins in the car park of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash and will take in other temples and streets including Howard Street, Stoney Stanton Road, Foleshill Road and Harnall Lane West.

Indian Films to Conflict at Tribeca Film Festival

 

A critically acclaimed dramatic feature film, “The Kite” (Patang); and “Marathon Boy,” a documentary about one of India’ s most fascinating personalities, nine-year-old Budhia, the famed Orissa-born marathon runner, will both screen in competition at the 10th Tribeca Film Festival, to be held in New York City April 20-May 1.

“The Kite” makes its North American premiere after a well-received screening in Berlin in February. Directed and written by Chicago-based filmmaker Prashant Bhargava, the film is a family saga set against the colorful spectacle of the Uttarayan, India’s largest kite festival.

British documentarian Gemma Atwal spent years shooting “Marathon Boy,” which follows the exploits of Budhia, a four-year-old boy plucked from the slums and trained as a marathon prodigy by Biranchi Das, a larger-than-life judo coach who runs an orphanage in Orissa. “But over the next five years and dozens of marathons, Budhia’s roller-coaster journey turns from an uplifting story of promise and opportunity to one of greed, corruption, and broken dreams,” said a spokesperson.

This year, 12 narrative and 12 documentary features all making their North American, international, or world premieres will compete for combined unrestricted cash prizes amounting to $150,000.

The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival will present a total of 88 feature-length and 61 short films from 32 countries. The 2011 film slate was chosen from a total of 5,624 submissions, a record number for the festival. “We believe the competition this year is one of our most diverse yet — it includes countries and genres never before represented and highlights the spectrum of world cinema out there today,” said David Kwok, director of programming.

As part of the festival’s new interactive initiative, several films from festivals past will screen for free online at www.tribecafilm.com, including “Clear Cut, Simple,” Vineet Dewan’s 2007 award-winning narrative short about an American soldier in Iraq torn between his duty to the military and his friendship with his Iraqi interpreter, based on a true story.

Hugh Jackman unveils Aussie film fest

 

Hugh Jackman (L to R) Peter castaldi, Deborah Lee, Hugh Jackman & Australian Film Festival in India Director Anupam Sharma Hugh Jackman may be all set to return to the US but not before he leaves his fans in India all satiated with his charming humour and humble demeanour. Before leaving Jaipur, the Australian actor, inaugurated the first Australian film festival ( AFFI) in Mumbai, India.

The Australian Film Initiative was born to market, promote and distribute Australian screen culture in emerging and non-traditional markets like India. AAFI's Directors, Anupam Sharma and Peter Castaldi aspire to take Australian films to the world by showcasing them in a series of annual film festivals.

The two-day festival organized by "An Australian Film Initiative", featured 20 films including Paperback Hero starring Hugh Jackman & Bill Bennett's cult film Kiss or Kill among others. Jackman happily supported the initiative with an intention of strengthening the ties between India and Australia. The festival was held on the 26th & 27th March in Mumbai.

Mr. Anupam Sharma, Festival Director, AAFI said, "The festival was organized to give the Indian audience a glimpse of our cinematic sensibilities as in India, cinema plays a pivotal role." Peter Castaldi, Festival Co-Director said "This annual platform will provide Indian and Australian film industries to benefit from each other particularly on the cinematic front to initiate a mutual participation between the two nations."

Speaking on Hugh Jackman inaugurating the AAFI, noted Australian filmmaker Bill Bennett told TOI, "I worked with Hugh Jackman way back in 1999. Back then he was young. After actors get popular, they change but that isn't the case with Hugh at all. He is the same humble guy he used to be for us Aussies."

People bestow heritage colour festival in Malwa

 

People in Madhya Pradesh's Malwa region celebrated the cultural heritage festival of Rang Panchami here on Thursday. The festival was celebrated with an aim of keeping alive Indian cultural values and traditions. People celebrated the festival with joy and gusto. Pushpeta Sharma, a non-resident Indian from Canada, said she wants to show the people of Canada that how beautifully festivals are celebrated in India.

"I have been living in Vancouver, Canada from the last 15 years. I have seen such festival for the first time and I am really enjoying myself. I want to record one CD (compact disc) of this festival and take it along with me to Vancouver to show the people there that how beautifully festivals are celebrated in our India," said Sharma. Vivek Kaushik said that the festival signifies the feeling of brotherhood and oneness.

"This is the very old heritage of Malwa which has its own charm. We are here with our family and we have also brought our relatives from abroad to show them the festival. We are really enjoying ourselves," said Kaushik. The festival is observed as symbol of brotherhood as people belonging to all age groups play with great enthusiasm irrespective of their caste, colour and creed.

India Festival - Not Quite India-Approved

 

The Kennedy Center’s just-concluded Maximum India festival was certainly successful from an attendance standpoint, with sold-out ticketed shows and packed free events. A number of music and dance performances received rave reviews, but not everyone was completely wowed by the festival's curating—at least in India.

Outlook India's Seema Sirohi wrote an article criticizing some of the art exhibits as well as the selection of musicians and authors. Of the former, Sirohi wrote, “Some eyebrows were also raised at Kaleidoscope, [an exhibition on Indian crafts], because it was mounted on bicycles in a darkened room lit by two large video screens playing scenes of urban streets.” Apparently that’s not how some Indians want their country viewed. Sirohi quoted an unnamed Indian “official” saying,  “Bicycles and all is a western visualisation. An Indian curator would have conceived it differently. But we need to accept that and see the benefits." Adrien Gardere, a Paris-based designer, curated "Kaleidoscope" and other art exhibits.

Sirohi noticed some unhappiness regarding the inclusion of McLean, Va.-based, Indian-born singer Vatsala Mehra and Scottish-born, New Delhi-based travel writer William Dalrymple: Some rolled their eyes at the inclusion of a self-anointed “ghazal queen” based here, thanks to a generous donation from one of her admirers. Similarly, not one but two events featuring William Dalrymple caused others to wonder if India becomes more acceptable when a non-Indian explains it.

Sirohi noted that the Kennedy Center's head of international programming, Alicia Adams, "bravely admitted Dalrymple was her 'choice,' not that of Ritu Menon, the 'literary curator.'”

In the Hindustan Times, Yashwant Raj took issue with the festival's film screenings. Raj wrote:  “Maximum India has been everything it was expected to be—a resounding success—but for its films: old art house productions, usual suspects pulled out from the stable of ponies reserved for film festivals.”

Raj quoted Adams, who said the film selection was put together with the help of actor Nandita Das.  “Once you ask an artist to curate (the show) you can’t then say I don’t want you to do this—you can’t interfere,” Adams said. The slate included only one new film, 2011’s Dhobi Ghat, along with one from the '60s, one from the '70s, two from the '80s, one from the '90s, and one from 2007.  Adams added that since “the films are old we have tried to bring over their directors to talk about their work so they (the films) are not stuck in time.” Adams has apparently not let any of these evaluations bother her—the Outlook India article indicated that she "is confident of the choices made and laughs off the criticism."

"Holi Party" held at Lalit Laxmi Vilas Palace in Udaipur

 

The colorful festival of Holi welcomes the arrival of spring and is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm. The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group under its "Unified Celebrations of India" initiative is commemorating "Holi Parv" at The Lalit Laxmi Vilas Palace, Udaipur. It is the ethos of the Group that it celebrates all major festivals and promotes Indian culture with people of India and all in-house guests.

To take forward the culture and philosophy of the group the festivities for Holi commenced from March 19, 2011 with traditional welcome and aarti. On the eve of Holi, guests enjoyed Rajasthani Bhawai dance along with High- Tea at Sajjan Garh, post which they participated in Holika Dahan (bonfire) followed by Garbha dance. To close the day the guests enjoyed traditional Rajasthani Folk dance performance along with cocktail & dinner.

On Holi morning, guests gathered to play 'Holi' by smearing each other with dry and wet herbal colors and flower petals- all in a spirit of great solidarity and good natured bonhomie, followed by lunch at Padmini. Peacock and Chang dance were the main attraction for the day. Guests enjoyed the evening at leisure for shopping and sight- seeing which will be followed by dinner and folk dance. On the last day of the 'Holi Parv' a special breakfast was arranged for the guests at Padmini.

A special package was available at Rs. 34,999/- for Palace Suite and Rs. 24,999 for the Deluxe Suite from March 19 - 21, 2011. Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson and Managing Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, said, "Our core objective to organize this three day festival is to let our guests experience & appreciate the Indian culture and also participate in the festival. It is with this philosophy that The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group started - "Unified Celebrations of India."

Indian pilgrims takes part in Sri Lanka's Kachchativu feast

 

Over 3,000 Indian nationals have attended the annual Kachchativu Feast of St. Anthony's Church on Saturday, the first fay of the two-day festival, the Sri Lankan government said.  The Sri Lanka Navy has made necessary arrangements to facilitate more than 10,000 Sri Lankans and 3,000 Indians attending the annual feast in Kachchativu Island.

"The Navy has provided the necessary facilities for people attending from Sri Lanka and India for the festival," the Navy spokesman ha said. "Jetty's have also been made available for people to dock their boats, while life-saving teams were deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees attending the festival," he has added.

Transport facilities from Jaffna have also been made available for the Sri Lankans attending the festival. The Navy spokesman has said that the Navy had developed all the by-roads and installed sanitation and drinking water facilities for people attending the festival.

The Sri Lankan government last week announced that restrictions imposed on Tamil Nadu fishermen on entering the Sri Lankan waters would be lifted during March 19 and 20th to allow them to participate in the annual religious festival. According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the laws regarding fishing in Sri Lankan waters will remain, but the Indian fishermen will be permitted to visit the island to participate in the religious celebrations without any travel documents being required by the Sri Lankan authorities.

Fishermen and fisher families from Tamil Nadu reportedly take a four hour boat ride to visit the Kachchativu Island annually to participate in the religious celebrations. India ceded the Kachchativu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974. The devotees from India continued to attend the festivities of the St. Anthony's Church which was established in 1905. The practice was interrupted during the three-decade long conflict during which the public was not allowed to visit the island due to security situation.

Bridgwater home glorifies Irish and Indian festivals

 

TWO cultures collided at the Rosary Nursing Home in Bridgwater yesterday.

Staff and residents celebrated all things Irish for St Patrick's Day before bringing a taste of Asia to mark the Indian spring festival of Holi.

There was an Irish bar serving up pints of Guinness followed by Indian attire, music and a curry for residents.

Lyn Taylor, manager, said: “There's no reason to restrict things to English celebrations; St Patrick's Day and Holi are very different events celebrated thousands of miles apart.

“We thought why not bring them together at our home by celebrating both.”

Colourful celebrations to show Hindu festival

 

Families are invited to a colourful day of events to celebrate the Hindu festival Holi. A Bollywood dance workshop, Dhol drumming and a wide selection of Indian food will be offer at Twickenham’s Orleans House Gallery to mark the annual festival of colour, which marks the end of winter and the beginning of Spring.

The free event on Sunday has been arranged by the Richmond Council Arts Service and the Ethnic Minorities Advocacy Group, in association with Hampton Academy, and will also showcase a variety of performances featuring young people from the borough.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, Richmond Council’s cabinet member for community development, said: “The festival will be an excellent day for the whole family. “Last year over 2,000 people took part in the traditional throwing of coloured powder, as well as enjoying a variety of live music and dance.

“Orleans House Gallery will be alive with music and dance, with the throwing of colour always a highlight.” The festival runs from 1pm until 4pm.

Old films demolishes India festival in Washington

Maximum India has been everything it was expected to be – a resounding success – but for its films: old art house productions, usual suspects pulled out from the stable of ponies reserved for film festivals. The host, Kennedy Center, is aware of the criticism, but is taking it on the chin. Alicia Adams, who has curated the 20-day Indian cultural bonanza, said the film section was put together with the help of actor Nandita Das.

“Once you ask an artist to curate (the show) you can’t then say I don’t want you to do this – you can’t interfere,” Adams told Hindustan Times on Monday. The attempt was then do liven up things to make the best of it. The films were arranged around the theme of women in Bollywood – Devi (1960), Mandi (1983), Mirch Masala (1985), Fire (1996), Four Women (2007) and its only concession to contemporary films Dhobi Ghat (2011).  “While the films are old we have tried to bring over their directors to talk about their work so they (the films) are not stuck in time,” said Adams, adding, “and that’s how we have tried to mitigate that.”

Maximum India is a series of art and culture shows being hosted by Kennedy Centre of performing Arts here in collaboration with the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations. It’s really Kennedy Centre’s show all the way.
It’s been a resounding success so far. And Chef Hemant Oberoi, the most expensive show there, at $100 a head. But he is a sellout, drawing crowds as big if not bigger than those thronging the free shows running elsewhere in the complex. But the star of the show could easily have been Shah Rukh Khan. He was ideal for the opening ceremony, but for his security detail. “Too expensive for us,” said Adams, who had a budget of $ 7 million to curate the shows.

Adams, who is vice president of international programming and dance at the Kennedy Center, spent over two and a half years and made seven visits to India to  select artists and performers for the 20-day festival. And she has put together an impressive package: a mix of old and  new in all them major categories of performing arts – dance, music – classical, jazz and Bollywood – theatre, and literature. But for that one weak link: films.
“Audiences are primarily interested in what is new,” Adams said, adding, “Dhobi Ghat is the one that is selling.” She wishes all the entries were new but was not possible, not with the kind of money Bollywood demands.

Indian Waltham festival

The LearnQuest Academy of Music in Waltham is gearing up for its sixth annual music festival, featuring Indian-Western fusion music and classical music from the Indian subcontinent. The LearnQuest Music Conference 2011 will start at Harvard University on March 30, 7 to 10 p.m.; shift to Boston University on March 31, 7 to 11 p.m.; and wrap up at Regis College’s Fine Arts Center in Weston on April 1, 7 to 11 p.m., and from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on April 2 and 3.

The event incorporates an array of master artists from the Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) classical traditions, as well as music educators from India and the United States, under the theme of unity with diversity. This year’s event will feature more than 40 artists, including Indrajit Banerjee (sitar), Snehashis Majumdar (mandolin), Sanjeev Abhyankar (vocals), Partha Bose (sitar), David Nelson (drums), Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar (vocals), V.K. Raman (flute), and a violin duo, Ganesh and Kumaresh.