Celebration of arts in India

The nip in the air brings with it not just relief from the scorching heat of Delhi but also sets the mood for cultural events that are organised in plenty during the winter months.

The first big event this year will be the 8th edition of Delhi International Arts Festival (DIAF) which will bring some of the finest performing artistes such as musicians and theatre actors to enrich Delhi’s cultural scene over 15 days.

Starting today evening, the festival will continue till November 11 at multiple venues. Having become synonymous with arts, DIAF is an exciting platform that always strives to be innovative and breathtaking in variety and diversity.

Even this year, the event shall encompass different art forms such theatre (folk and contemporary), Sufi music, classical, folk, contemporary dance, world music, classical music, exhibitions, poetry and film shows; from not just India but even abroad.

Artistes from 14 countries including Pakistan, Iran, USA, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Israel, Chile, Malaysia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia have been invited to perform during the festival. Like its previous editions, the festival shall commence in the premises of the historical Purana Qila amid vedic chants by Veda-Shakha Swadhyaya and Varanasi vedic scholars.

This will be followed by the presentation of 'International Music and Dance Festival' replete with performances by Aswara Dance Company from Malaysia and Gәkku Dance Troupe from Kazakhstan. There will also be a traditional and folk dance performance from Turkey. Simultaneously at another venue, there will be theatre performances – Untold Stories (Mumbai) and A Woman Alone (Kolkata), at National School of Drama's Rangmanch hall, from 7 pm onwards.

Apart from formal auditoriums, performances will also take place at 25 exciting new performance venues, developed by the festival authorities, across Delhi and the NCR. Large folk contingents will perform alongside contemporary artistes. Recognised as India's International Arts Festival, DIAF has made its place in the cultural calendar of Delhi.

“I want the government to recognise the enormous work that has gone into planning and organising this festival year after year, formalise the festival and give it the financial support it needs to reach the next level,” said festival director Prathibha Prahlad hoping Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “appreciate the efforts to put India on the world map for cultural tourists.”

Some of the events to look forward to, apart from the breathtaking opening ceremony, include Women-centric dance theatre at National School of Drama, Maria Kong Dance Company from Israel; an extravagant dance theatre production from Czech Republic; a diverse spread of Indian classical dance and folk theatre by renowned artistes at Meghdoot Theatre; world music at Habitat's Amphitheatre and Azad Bhavan;

Lady Macbeth in Kathakali-style; Sufis and Fakiris from Gorbanda (Bengal); Qawwals from Pakistan and India; a socially-motivated Pakistani play Guddo on child sexual abuse by MAAS Theatre from Lahore; western classical music from Hungary and the Czech Republic, to name just a few.

Details of individual events can be checked at www.diaf.in.