Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali enthralls crowd at 'Namaste France Festival' in Paris

Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan along with his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash and Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia and her troupe, enthralled the crowd with their performances at the Namaste France cultural festival organized by the Indian Embassy in Paris, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The festival is being organized from September 15 to November 30 in France as per the Indo-French joint statement issued post French President Francois Hollande visited India as the Chief Guest of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

The festival was inaugurated by Indian envoy to France, Dr. Mohan Kumar, at the La Villette in Paris and was attended by vice-president of ICCR Prof. Sunaina Singh, representatives of the French Government, Senators, Deputies, eminent personalities among others.

During the festival, 70 events representing India's rich civilizational and cultural heritage will be organised in various major cities of France including Paris, Strasbourg, Nice, Nantes, Marseilles, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Tropez, Tourcoing etc and in the French overseas territories like Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin and the Reunion Island.

These events will showcase Indian culture in the fields of music, dance, theatre, cinema, art exhibitions, cuisine, spirituality, yoga and Ayurveda reflecting the Indian ethos that are deep rooted in its traditions.

The events and the scale of the festival will reflect the rapid transformations taking place in India which has seen rapid modernisation in recent years while not losing its cultural roots.

Namaste France festival will act as a platform for the French to view and understand India's historically rich cultural traditions.

Internationally renowned Indian artists like Santoor virtuoso Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Sitar maestro Pandit Kushal Das, noted contemporary Indian dance choreographer Astad Deboo, fashion designer Rahul Mishra, painter Anju Chaudhuri, Kuttiyattam artists from Kerala Kalamandalam and Michelin Star Chef Vineet Bhatia will be presenting their art at the festival.

In addition, several French artists trained by the ICCR in India are also participating in the festival. The website www.namaste-france.org gives detailed information on various events of the festival.

The festival will close with the performance of Violin maestro L. Subramaniam and legendary Kuchipudi dancer couple Raja and Radha Reddy in Philharmonie in Paris on 30 November 2016.