Sitting upright on a straight back chair in her spartanly done up two-bedroom apartment on Feroz Shah Road, Prathibha Prahlad is drowning in piles and piles of registers, brochures and pamphlets. She’s working towards the 8th edition of Delhi International Arts Festival, and as its festival director, Pratibha wants to make sure everything falls into its place perfectly.
Starting October 28, this festival of artists, musicians and theatre actors gives you an abounding cultural experience wherein folk, tribal, classical and contemporary from all over India and the world will be showcased. Artistes from 14 countries, including Pakistan, Iran, the US, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Israel, Chile, Malaysia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia will partake in this 15-day event. “I am very happy that Delhi International Arts Festival is now recognised as India’s International Arts Festival. I want the government to recognise the enormous work that has gone into planning and organising this festival year after year, and formalise the festival, giving it the financial support it needs to reach the next level. I am confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will appreciate the efforts to put India on the world map for cultural tourists. Of over 200 international festivals in the world, DIAF is the most poorly funded, but just look at the impact it is making on the ground,” says Prathibha.
One of the special events she tells everybody to watch out for is the North East Festival at IGNCA, Janpath, which will see personalities like Ash King, John Abraham and Mary Kom participate in a fashion show, promoting the textiles from the region. Some of the other performances you could consider watching are the Maria Kong Dance Company from Israel, Sufis and fakiri’s from Gorbanda, Bengal, Qawwals from Pakistan and India, a socially motivated Pakistani play called Guddo on child sexual abuse by MAAS Theatre from Lahore, Western classical music from Hungary and the Czech Republic, poetry, painting, tribal crafts and looms, film screenings and more.
Date October 28 to November 11
Time and venue log on to www.diaf.in
Entry Free; on first-come-first-served basis