New Delhi: If you are a performing arts enthusiast then the Delhi International Art Festival (DIAF) is the place to be! Visit the vibrant festival that attempts to exhibit the diversity of our nation through different art forms like theatre, music, and poetry, among others.
The Ministry of Culture is organising the Delhi International Art Festival’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav addition at Kartavya Path in Central Vista Lawn with the collaboration of the Prasiddha Foundation. DIAF is back after almost two years to Celebrate the various rich genres of Indian culture and art with the Tagline ‘When Bharat Meets India’.
The event was inaugurated by Lok Sabha MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on 16th December at India Gate and will continue till December 30. During the Inauguration ceremony Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Prathibha Prahlad, founder director of DIAF, David Puig ambassador of the Dominican Republic, and Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations were also present.
Prathibha Prahlad said, “This edition is special because we are back after two years of the pandemic. Being able to celebrate the richness of India right in the heart of the city at Kartavya Path is a moment of pride for us.”
Lok Sabha MP Maneka Gandhi says she is grateful for being part of DIAF's journey. “I have seen this festival grow in the past 15 years. It is one of the things that we rejoice about during Delhi winters”, she mentioned.
The event started with the Dominican Republic’s traditional musical performance by the La Carisalve band which attracted a large number of people. A brilliant Kuchipudi dance performance choreographed by Jayarama Rao. Prism Theatre society also performed a Hindi Play named ‘Veer Abhimanyu’.
Dominican Republic ambassador David Puig also thanks India by saying, "Mujhe bahut Khushi hai kyunki pehli baar a musical troupe from the Dominican Republic is performing at DIAF. This music is our pure traditional music from the Dominican Republic. It originates in the Christian liturgy and incorporates African instruments and instruments born in the Dominican Republic over the years.”
A long series of events are being organised in the city including Samvet Auditorium Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Janpath, and Amphitheatre Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Janpath. Kathak, Odissi, theatre, classical music, and a variety of Traditional Indian art forms are getting performed daily at the event which is attracting not only Indians, foreigners as well.
Prathibha Prahlad, founder, and director of the event explained the 15-day-long event aims to promote and establish India’s cultural heritage as soft power for the global world. This event aims to celebrate the great Epics of our nation, stories of our Freedom Fighters, movements, and schemes of government such as cleaning our holy rivers, Clean India Green India, and Women's Empowerment.
The event is free and open to the public. People can also watch it live by logging in on the Ministry of Culture's DIAF website https://live.diaf.in/login/.