The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) announced the celebration of the 'Seventh Edition of the India International Ramayana Festival' which is based on the theme of the relevance of year-long festival ‘Year of Connecting the World through Ramayana-2024’. The event will be inaugurated on Thursday, January 18, by Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi at 11.30 AM on the premises of iconic historic Purana Qila, New Delhi.
The Director- General of ICCR, Kumar Tuhin will also be in attendance in addition to the members of the Diplomatic Corps, art connoisseurs, prominent scholars, dignitaries drawn from professional walks of life among others.
Year-Long Programme And More...
In keeping with the invaluable life lessons derived from Ramayana which transcends time and culture, this year the festival has been scheduled into a year-long programme of cultural and academic activities, beginning from January 2024 till December 2024.
The curtain raiser of this much-awaited round of festivities will be the staging of ballet performances by prominent Indian and international dance-drama troupes. This show will run daily from January 18-21, between 5-7 PM at the premises of Purana Qila New Delhi.
In addition, an eye catching display of arts and crafts, in a series of interactive Art and Craft Exhibitions, have been arranged for the same duration from 11.30 AM to 7.00 PM daily. The latter activities will be on view as day-long attractions, culminating to the evening’s staged performances, after sundown.
The Jan Bhagidari Scheme
Apart from the India International Ramayana Festival, the enduring and year-long connectivity among the participating troupes is in keeping with the Jan Bhagidari Scheme, riveted to the motto of collective participation. The ‘Ramayana’ festivities under this umbrella, also advocate the ideals of PM Modi's initiative of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas Sab Vishwas.'
This makes the festival a reinforcing mantra for uniting all regions of the country, as also extending links between participating international groups with one another, through their individual interpretations.
Second Phase In Lucknow And More:
The second phase of the celebrations will coincide with a staging of the cultural performances in Lucknow (21st – 22 nd January). This will be followed by a week long demonstration of the International component of the Ramayana Festival at selected spots in Ayodhya from January 22- 29, giving audiences and visitors an additional window of engagement.
In the months of April and May, the festival will concentrate on holding conferences, seminars, and exhibitions, at Indian cultural centres abroad, so as to widen deliberations on the Ramayana, with views of renowned Indian and International scholars on the subject.
In addition to public interactions, a concerted programme of documentation, examining various aspects of the Ramayana through scholarly papers, publications and books will be held.
The ongoing calendar of stage performances will also include productions by Ramayana cultural delegations from Almora, Ramnagar and also at locales which have UNESCO-based Intangible Heritage links with Ramayana, in India and abroad.
The calendar of travel exhibitions of Ramayana artworks, contemporary and traditional, classical and tribal, will be on show at select platforms nationally and worldwide.
About ICCR:
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations, (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs is entrusted with the task of mutual cultural exchanges by promoting Indian culture abroad and showcasing world culture to Indian audiences.