3rd edition of 'Bonjour India' to begin on Nov 18: French

The four-month-long 'Bonjour India', a joint Indo-French festival, will begin later this month and focus on three major components -- smart citizen, high mobility and go green.
The third edition of the festival spanning 33 cities across India will kick off on November 18, with major events in Delhi and Jaipur, French officials said today.
"As many as 300 events, 100 projects spanning 33 cities across 20 states and Union territories would be held till February 2018.
"The events will showcase strengths under three key pillars Smart Citizen, Go Green, High mobility. Each event will illustrate three concepts innovation, creativity and partnership," Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler told reporters.

He said 'Bonjour India' was not merely a festival but an expression of the Indo-French relationship.
The envoy said it is the "coming together of the minds of people of the two countries to imagine a future".

It will feature performances and shows created together by French and Indian artists, fostering debates on yesterday's and tomorrows ideas," Bonjour India's General Curator, Bertrand de Hartingh said.
In Delhi, a major event will be held at the India Gate lawns, where a digital wall will provide an immersive experience to the audience. The show will present the history and connection of the two countries, while also underlining their future.

"It (event) will exhibit the history of the French-Indian relationship focusing on establishing a platform that will create joint initiatives in all possible fields.
"It will tell the story of the countries' rich relationship, highlighting what the two countries can do together in terms of technological, social and environmental innovations," the French Embassy said.
"Bonjour India is a key event of the historical Indo- French relations of friendship and trust, which have grown in scope and exchanges over the last few years," the envoy said.
He also stressed that under the smart city project in India, the French government has already partnered to work on three cities -- Chandigarh, Nagpur and Chandannagar.

The festival would also involve a project on heritage conservation in Chandannagar, a former French colony near Kolkata in West Bengal.
The festival will be held in several cities, including, Shillong, Ranchi, Kochi, Indore, Chennai and Mumbai.
The first edition of the festival was hosted in 2009 and the second one in 2013-14, which was more art-oriented.