Bangkok:
The second edition of ‘Festival of India in Thailand’ has started here with a focus on contemporary Modern India as a myriad of colours, culture, music and rhythm of the country were on display.
The festival began on Monday with a performance by diva Sonam Kalra and her musicians of the Sufi Gospel Project. Her mesmerizing tenor melding traditional Indian classical, Sufi and Western music, drew loud applause from the audiences here.
It will continue till May 25 across Bangkok with its piece de resistance “Words on Water” featuring well known Indian and Thai authors.
The first part of the festival featured spiritual India with emphasis on Buddhism and was held last year.
The Embassy of India is hosting the festival here in collaboration with Sanjoy Roy’s Teamworks and Chulaongkorn University here.
Thai Princess Sirindorn will attend the closing event of the festival and participate in an interaction between Indian and Thai writers.
“She has been to India many times and is a high level bridge between the two countries,” India’s Ambassador to Thailand Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at the festival opening adding that she knew about Indian culture, languages and had visited several places in India.
Shringla told reporters that “the emphasis on last year’s festival here was on spirituality, like Ramayana depicting strong bond of two countries. This year we are focusing on contemporary aspect, it is modern India”.
“Mix of painting, dance, fashion and music. Sanjoy Roy, known for organizing the widely popular Jaipur literary festival, has run 26 annual festivals across the world,” he said.
“We will have representation from Thailand in every programme,” he said adding that “art�creates window of opportunity to understand and transcend differences.
Art is an important vehicle for foreign diplomacy route, Roy noted.
The festival will feature “Assam Evening” on March 6 with a show of beautiful ethnic costumes and dance. Assam will demonstrate its cultural diversity as a mosaic of various cultures.
Five talented Assamese fashion designers will showcase their creations interspersed with performances of classical dance and traditional music with violinist Sunita Bhuyan performing.
Raghu Dixit Project, a well known independent band will share the stage with a popular Thai group on March 10.
Contemporary dancer Daksha Sheth will perform on March 13. Sheth and her husband are pioneers of the aerial technique in Indian dance.
Thammasat University will host the Indian Fun Fair on March 22, highlighted by Rajasthan Josh with folk musicians.
An exhibition “Forms of Devotion” will be held from April 27 to May 10.
