The Festival of India in Australia looks to bring the two nations closer.
Aman in a lungi strummed his guitar and asked the audience to repeat the lyr-ics—Lokada kaalaji mada-theenanti, ningyaar byaadantaara madappa china (Don't worry, be happy. But if you want to worry, I don't give a damn). The Kannadigas in the crowd joined in; the Australians tried in earnest. Then came the guitar riff, and the listeners raised their hands, making waves and unleashing applause. Over the course of half a dozen songs, interspersed with ambitious dance moves and wisecracks, Raghu Dixit and his band of merry men enthralled the Sydney Opera House. After the final bow, they capped off the night with a selfie and a promise to meet everyone outside.
Men in lungis might seem incongruous with the hallowed arts centre. But that is the essence of Confluence—The Festival of India, which celebrates Indian arts and culture, from August 15 to November 8, across seven Australian cities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the festival during his visit to Australia in 2014 and, in July this year, the Australian government announced 250,000 dollars to support it. The aim of the festival was to improve bilateral relations between the countries and to foster people to people connections. On board were India's culture ministry, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Indian High Commission in Australia, along with sponsors, including the Australian government. Delhi-based Teamwork Arts handled the production of the event.
On September 18, at a gala event at the Sydney Opera House, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said: "It is a proud moment for both nations and we should celebrate India-Australia relations in a big way. It is cultural bonds that build solid bridges of friendship and understanding. It is our hope that this event promotes better understanding among the various communities.”
The tickets for the gala event—1,800—were sold out in 15 minutes.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 9, 2016 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 9, 2016 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The female act
The 19th edition of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival was of the women and by the women
A SHOT OF ARCHER
An excerpt from the prologue of An Eye for an Eye
MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE
50 years. after his first book, Jeffrey*Archer refuses to put down his'felt-tip Pilot pen
Smart and sassy Passi
Pop culture works according to its own unpredictable, crazy logic. An unlikely, overnight celebrity has become the talk of India. Everyone, especially on social media, is discussing, dissing, hissing and mimicking just one person—Shalini Passi.
Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping
PORTS AND ALLIED infrastructure development are at the heart of India's ambitions to become a maritime heavyweight.
MADE FOR EACH OTHER
Trump’s preferred transactional approach to foreign policy meshes well with Modi’s bent towards strategic autonomy
DOOM AND GLOOM
Democrats’ message came across as vague, preachy and hopelessly removed from reality. And voters believed Trump’s depiction of illegal immigrants as a source of their economic woes
WOES TO WOWS
The fundamental reason behind Trump’s success was his ability to convert average Americans’ feelings of grievance into votes for him
POWER HOUSE
Trump International Hotel was the only place outside the White House where Trump ever dined during his four years as president
DON 2.0
Trump returns to presidency stronger than before, but just as unpredictable
