The theme of the Festival is “Sangam”: a confluence of cultures of India and Sri Lanka. The logo of the Festival, which is a pictorial depiction of “Sangam” in Sinhala, Hindi and Tamil, is a manifestation of the symbiotic ties that bind us. Various events will be held as part of the Festival in 2015-16.
The inaugural event, a mosaic of Indian dance forms, “Nrityarupa”, is scheduled to be held in Colombo on November 19, 2015 at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, at Kandy on November 21, 2015 at Hindu Cultural Hall, and at Galle on November 23, 2015 at Hall de Galle.
Nrityarupa has been crafted under the artistic direction of Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama, for the Festival of India. Six dance forms representing the diversity of India’s culture have been chosen: Bharatanatyam from southern India; Kathak, preeminently the dance form of the north; Odissi, from Odisha in eastern India; Manipuri from the north-eastern state of Manipur; Kathakali from Kerala at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula; and Chhau which covers a wide swathe of territory in the eastern states of the India.
Other events for Festival of India include the participation of Indian authors and a performance by singer Sonam Kalra and her brainchild, Sonam Kalra & The Sufi Gospel Project, at the Galle Literary Festival in January 2016. On the occasion of Republic Day of India, a musical performance will be held in January 2016. Two exhibitions, one on “Digital India” and one on “Cricket Connects” will be held in February 2016. More events under the Festival of India in Sri Lanka will be scheduled later.
The Festival of India is a celebration of our shared civilizational heritage and will further strengthen the close links between our peoples and cultures.
