FESTIVAL OF INDIA IN HO CHI MINH CITY March 6-15, 2014

The Embassy of India in Hanoi, the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and the Ministry of Culture of India in cooperation with Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations and other agencies will be organizing a ‘Festival of India’ in Ho Chi Minh City from March 6-15, 2014 to promote cultural linkages between the two countries. The Festival in Ho Chi Minh City would be part of the Festival of India in Vietnam to be held in three cities - Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.  In Ho Chi Minh City, following events would be organized as part of the Festival:

  

i	Buddhist Exhibition: The Buddhist Exhibition ‘Dharam Darshan’ will be inaugurated at 1000 hrs on March 6, 2014 at the Fine Arts Museum. This Exhibition will explore and illustrate the life and teachings of the Buddha.
ii	Buddhist Festival: As a part of the Buddhist Festival to be held from March 6 to 10, 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City, a group of Indian monks will visit Vietnam. They will perform Lama chanting, sacred Lama dance, prepare a sand mandala and butter sculpture at the Pho Quang Pagoda. The formal inaugural of the Buddhist Festival will take place on March 7, 2014 at 1900 hours at Pho Quang Pagoda. The Buddhist Monks would also be performing at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda at 0900 hrs on March 8, 2014.
iii	Yoga classes cum demonstration:  Two Yoga teachers from India will give classes cum demonstrations at the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisation, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City from 11 to 15 March 29014.
iv	Folk dance:  A 8-member Folk Dance troupe ‘Kalbelia’ from the Rajasthan State of India will perform at the Auditorium of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisation in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City at 1930 hrs on 12 March 2014. The folk dance form `is included in the UNESCO List of Heritage of the Humanity.
v	Food Festival and Mehendi Art: Chefs from India are being specially flown in to prepare Indian dishes that will be served at the Café Saigon, Sheraton Saigon Hotel from March 13 to 15 at 1800 hours every day. At the inauguration of the Food Festival on 13 March , 2014, a special performance of the Rajasthani Folk dance troupe will be held. A Henna (mehendi) artist from India would also be present at the Food Festival, for henna hand painting.
vi	Classical Dance Recital: Nrityarupa - a mosaic of Indian classical dance showcasing six major Indian dance traditions of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri and Chhau. The opening concert of the classical dance recital will be held at the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Centre (Opera House), Lam Son Square on March 14, 2014 at 1930 hours, followed by another concert at 1900 hrs on 15 March at the Youth Cultural Centre, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.