France and India have shared historical and friendly ties for centuries. The Embassy of India in Paris, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is organising the 75-day festival of India, ‘Namasté France’, from September 15 to November 30.
The festival aims to showcase the best of Indian traditional arts, music and dance, theater, graphic and decorative arts, literature, cinema, fashion, gastronomy, yoga and Ayurveda, among others, unveiling the many faces of this millenary culture in several French cities and French oversea territories.
Many internationally renowned artists – including legendary dancer-choreographer Astad Deboo, renowned Kuchipudi dancing couple Raja and Radha Reddy, illustrious santoor player Pandit Bhajan Sopori, violin maestro Dr L Subramaniam, sarod virtuoso Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan, master dhrupad exponent Ustad Sayeduddin Dagar, Kuttiyatam master Sivan Namboodri, and theatre veteran Girish Karnad – would mesmerize the French audience with their immense talent.
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, fashion designer Rahul Mishra and Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia will also be part of Namasté France. This cultural festival will also celebrate Diwali and Navratri in France, see ‘East marries West’- themed concerts of Odissi, Bharatanatyam and an Indo-French Kathak jugalbandi, as well as feature spiritual lectures.
“‘Namasté France’ follows Honorable Prime Minister’s visit to France and the announcement is contained in the joint statement. It is a reflection of the growing partnership between the two countries. The cultural festival ‘Namasté France’ would be inaugurated on September 15 in Paris with a sarod performance of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash. Kumudini Lakhia and her 16-member group would also perform.
Navratri Festival would be celebrated in France with the Sujit Vndur troupe. Diwali, too, would be celebrated in Paris with performances by Pandit Bhajan Sopori. The curtains would come down on the festival on November 30 with a violin performance by Dr L Subramaniam and a Kuchipudi dance led by Raja and Radha Reddy,” shared Ambassador Rajasekhar, Director General, ICCR.
Highlighting the longstanding historical ties between France and India, His Excellency Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, said, “France and India share a great friendship, which is reflected in our excellent bilateral relationship. But it is nowhere better illustrated than in the initiatives that bring our people closer. Namasté France is a wonderful opportunity to boost the vitality of our cultural exchanges. Culture, fashion and art are strongly related to the images of both France and India, and these areas are the best to enhance what I call a strong ‘partnership from the heart’ between our two countries. I am also delighted to announce that the third edition of the Bonjour India festival will be held next year. Namasté France and Bonjour India will enable a whole new generation of youths in both countries to discover the common vision that they share of the world and novel ways of expressing it.”