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Artisan Mela, Navi Mumbai (2010).
The
Surabhi Foundation, along with CIDCO (The City Industrial
Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited) launched yet
another dynamic effort for promoting Indian culture the
Artisan Mela. This Festival was a 5-day extravaganza of
festivities which took place from January 23rd to 27th, 2010
at the exquisitely designed green Urban Haat Complex, and was
part of the larger Navi Mumbai Festival. The Surabhi
Foundation aimed at showcasing the richness and diversity of
Indian crafts from across the country on a common platform,
creating a festive ambience with hands-on craft
demonstrations, extraordinary performances by renowned artists
(including Pop singer Vaishali Samant, and the Sandeep Mahavir
Dance Troupe), and mouth-watering cuisine.
The Times of India Surabhi Spring Festival (2008)
The
Surabhi Foundation for Research and Cultural Exchange (Surabhi
FORCE) in association with Samarth Nagar Lokhandwala Complex
Residents Association (SNLCRA) organized the Times of India
Surabhi Spring Fest, celebrating the arrival of Basant- the
Indian Spring season. The venue was in the heart of the
prestigious Lokhandwala Complex where the three-day event took
place between 11th to the 13th of April, 2008. This cultural
extravaganza showcased Arts, Craft, Music, Dance and Cuisine
from all over India woven around the theme of the advent of
spring. The festival included participation from Tourism
Depts. across the country including Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Assam. Several craftsmen and
Master Craftsmen displayed their masterpieces in the various
stalls provided. The grand finale of the event featured a
spectacularly soul-stirring performance by none other than
Hans Raj Hans, the world famous Sufi, Folk, and Pop singer
from Punjab.
About Surabhi FORCE:
The
Surabhi Foundation for Research and Cultural Exchange (Surabhi
FORCE) is a non-profit organization involved in the
documentation, preservation, and dissemination of India's
cultural heritage at the national and international level.
Surabhi FORCE is based on the remarkable success of
'Surabhi' (Fragrance), India's longest running culture
series on national television, as a result of which India's
largest independent audio-visual archive of Indian art and
heritage (over 15,000 hours) was created, a resource that lies
at the heart of the Surabhi FORCE. Spearheaded by Siddharth
Kak, a well-known television personality and a familiar
face for Indian television audience nationwide, the
organization has to its credit several events like Mumbai
Mela & Night Bazaar, Indiyeah Craft Expo, Gurukul Life
Enrichment workshops, etc. based on various aspects of
Indian culture which it has conducted in various Indian metros
in the past.
Click Here To View Photograph
of Surabhi's Spring Festivals
Event Itinerary:
Day One - Mesmerizing Maharashtra (Friday, April 11,
2008)
The
three-day event kick-starts with Maharashtra's harvest New
Year, Gudi Padwa, since it falls much earlier than that of
rest of the states. The day is themed on the taste, colour,
and sounds of Maharashtra; be it food, crafts, and folk
performance, you have it all here. Come and whet your appetite
with the typical Maharashtrian fare like Kaju Kothambir Vadi,
Watana Batata Pattice, Kokani Kabab, and Aluchi Vadi for
starters, Chi Tambada, Mutton Pandara, Prawn Hirva Rassa &
Rawas Kalwan for the non-vegetarian lovers, while Barleli
Wangi, Vaal Birde, and Kalawatana Amti for the vegetarians. Oh
yes, don't forget to try Puran Poli and Basundi for desserts.
To top it all, the evening will see the visitors swaying to
the foot tapping folk performances like Naman, Lavni, Gondhal,
Thakkar, Bail Pola, Jagar, and Dariya Kinara. And for the
movie buffs, here is a chance to rub shoulders with some of
your favourite celebrities, starting with none other than Mr.
Yash Chopra, the renowned director of romantic superhits like
Silsila, and Chandni.
Day Two - Harmonious Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Jammu
& Kashmir
(Saturday, April 12, 2008)
Taking the visitor from the high of Maharashtra in the
previous evening to another high will be folk art, craft, and
cuisine from Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir.
The graceful Bihu dance of Assam, the frenzied performances of
Madhya Pradesh like the famous music group - Maihar Band
(India's first classical band formed under the patronage of
the ruler of the Maihar province), followed by folk dances
like Badhai, Matki, and Nawrata. One of the highlights of the
evening would be performers from Jammu & Kashmir who would
entertain people with Ghazals, Kashmiri, Sufi, and folk music.
Traditional cuisines of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and Madhya
Pradesh will add to the flavour of the evening. Celebrated
lyricist Javed Akhtar will grace the occasion.
Day Three- Powerful Punjab (Sunday, April 13, 2008)
As the day falls on Baisakhi, The Punjabi New Year, the
theme is obviously Punjabi with a power packed performance by
Hans Raj Hans, the world famous Sufi, Folk, and Pop singer
from Punjab with his team. If all that leaves you asking for
more, you can try the mouth watering cuisine from different
states for complete entertainment. If it is food for some,
then it is crafts for some on display is an array of the
Maharashtrian crafts like Paithani Sarees, Kolhapuri Chappals,
Bidri Work, Warli Paintings, and Papier Mache, Cane &
Bamboo work from Assam, Rugs, dress materials, and jewellery
from Jammu & Kashmir, Phulkari from Punjab, wooden
artifacts from Andhra Pradesh, ethnic weaves from Orissa, Lac
Bangles from Rajasthan, and Lacquered wooden toys from
Karnataka |
