Maharashtra to hold tourism event in Times Square

Sari draping, rangolis and Diwali celebrations are some of the themes that will mark the Maharashtra government's mega-tourism promotional event to be held in New York's iconic Times Square in September.

The promotional event by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation - the first by a state of any Asian country addressing an international audience at the venue - would showcase the state's rich cultural heritage to attract more tourists during Diwali this year.

"Initiatives like this made a definite impact on the number of foreign tourists visiting Maharashtra last year," state Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal told reporters here Thursday while giving details of the event.

"We look forward to boost the state's distinctive features of being a year-round tourist destination for both regular and business travellers at the upcoming Times Square event this September," Bhujbal said.

Buoyed by the success of its maiden event last year at the same venue, the MTDC will now project and promote the state as a 365-day tourist destination offering everything from the cool hills of Western Ghats to the bewitching beaches on the 720-km long Konkan coast, wildlife, agriculture, wine, and heritage tourism.

With over 350,000 pedestrians visiting Times Square daily, more than 100,000 Indians, including Maharashtra organisations from across the US, Canada and Mexico, will take part in the promotional.

The event will be publicised widely on digital, television, radio and print media in the US. There will be orchestrated laser light shows and fireworks on giant screens.

Maharashtrian food, dances, diya-rangoli paintings, arts and crafts, fashion shows, photo booths with ethnic outfits, dahi handi-mallkhamb and other attractions will be showcased.

The grand event will have performances by top names from Bollywood, Bhujbal said.