Cultural festival starts in Bhutan

The fourth edition of a Arts, Culture and Literature festival organised through a joint India-Bhutan initiative has been launched here in the presence of the country's newly elected premier.
The event, 'Mountain Echoes', was inaugurated at the India House yesterday in the presence of Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay and Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck of the royal family and Indian Ambassador to Bhutan V P Haran.
In his welcome address, Haran said that the festival has become a beautiful place for melding of minds.
Ashi Wangchuck, the royal patron of the festival, said the festival has become a time when Thimphu comes alive with prose, music, poetry and art. She also thanked the Prime Minister for his support towards the festival and appreciated the efforts of the India-Bhutan Foundation for making the festival possible.

India-Bhutan Foundation was established in August 2003 during the visit of then King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, to India with an aim of enhancing people to people exchanges in areas like education, culture and environment protection.
Siddharth Shriram, the Co-Chairman of USHA International, the festival's presenter, gave the concluding speech at the ceremony.
The festival's guest list includes prominent film-maker Aparna Sen and renowned writer Amish Tripathi.