October 21, 2021
2 mins read

Dubai Expo is Launchpad For India’s Post-Pandemic Cultural Activities

India will soon open its first Cultural Centre in the Gulf in Saudi Arabia which will be the second Indian Cultural Centre in the Arab world after Cairo, a report by Krishnan Nayar

With Expo 2020 Dubai providing a safe environment for launching mega global events since disruptions worldwide caused by COVID-19, India has used the opportunity to resume its soft power activities internationally, according to New Delhi’s chief cultural diplomat.

Dubai Expo is Launchpad For India’s Post-Pandemic Cultural Activities

“We started with a big bang at the Expo 2020 Dubai,” Dinesh Patnaik, Director-General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), told New Delhi-based foreign correspondents at a media briefing yesterday.

“At Expo 2020 Dubai, the ICCR is associated with the entire cultural organising for India’s participation. At the opening ceremony of the Indian Pavilion, we had troupes from India performing several dance forms known as Mohini Attam, Garbha and others.”

A pioneering cultural effort was to take artistes from Calcutta’s mass venues, known as puja pandals, which are makeshift halls temporarily erected during the local festival, to perform at the Indian Pavilion. West Bengal’s puja pandals have traditionally attracted millions of people for centuries during the just concluded puja festival this year.

ALSO READ: One in five visitors visit Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020

For five days last week, ICCR troupes from India performed at the India Pavilion in celebration of Dussehra festival, which symbolises the victory of good over evil in Indian mythology. Yakshagana, traditional theatre, which originated in Karnataka state was also a feature of the ICCR’s programme during some of these days.

Dubai Expo is Launchpad For India’s Post-Pandemic Cultural Activities

Even as the Pavilion transforms into a permanent exhibition on India after the conclusion of Expo 2020 Dubai, Patnaik said India would soon open its first Cultural Centre in the Gulf in Saudi Arabia. It will be the second Indian Cultural Centre in the Arab world after Cairo.

Close on the heels relaunching India’s soft power abroad with participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, Patnaik said the ICCR sent teams to take part in the ongoing celebrations in Manama marking 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bahrain. These included public festivities at the well-known landmark of Baab al Bahrain.

The ICCR was founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister and it serves as the primary government-run forum to foster cultural relations between India and foreign countries.

Previous Story

UAE launches ‘Pioneers of Digital Economy’

Next Story

UAE Partners With Israel On Beresheet-2 Moon Landing

Latest from -Top News

Modi: We’ll Hunt Them Down

The Prime Minister thanked nations that extended support to India in the aftermath of the terror attack…reports Asian Lite News In his first address after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu

Moscow Steps Up Afghan Diplomacy

Russia sees a potential economic partner in the Taliban authorities, who praised Moscow for scrapping the “terrorism” label last week…reports Asian Lite News Russia has announced that it will elevate the Afghan

World leaders condemn Kashmir terror attack 

Strong messages of condemnation of the terror attack came from leaders in different parts of the world including the US, Russia, UAE, Israel, Singapore, France, Sri Lanka and Iran  World leaders strongly

India downgrades ties with Pakistan 

The decision — which also included the downgrading of diplomatic ties with Pakistan — came after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the PM   India on

Sindh Lawyers Lead Protests Against Canal Plan 

The protests, which have been ongoing for weeks, have gathered significant attention from various sectors of Sindh’s civil society, including nationalist parties, farmers, writers, and members of the legal community.  Judicial activities
Go toTop

Don't Miss

DEWA expands its energy production capacity

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that the total

UAE to participate in Expo 2025 Osaka  

The event marked the start of construction of the UAE