India Culture Week commences in Zhenjiang with Bollywood Dance Group performing to packed audience at Zhenjiang Theatre – Indian Arts Exhibition, Indian Film Festival and Indian Food Festival receive overwhelming response (17 – 24 March 2017) 

Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Zhenjiang Municipal People’s Government organized a week long celebration of Indian culture and arts at leading public venues in Zhenjiang in the week beginning 16 March 2017. Some of the key events showcased during the India Week celebrations in Zhenjiang included: 

1)        Opening Ceremony – with Bollywood Dance Performance 

India Culture Week Celebrations commenced in Zhenjiang on 16 March evening at the prestigious Zhenjiang Theatre with a fast paced Bollywood Dance Performance by A to Z Group, that was sent to China at the sponsorship of ICCR.   The performance was witnessed by nearly 1000 local Zhenjiang people, including Indian students who joined in large numbers from Zhenjiang University.  Zhenjiang city leadership, including Chairman of Zhenjiang CPPCC, Mr. Li Guozhong along with Consul General Prakash Gupta inaugurated the opening ceremony and wished the India Culture Week in Zhenjiang all success. 

2)        Indian Arts Exhibition showcasing Indian Buddhism on display at Xijin Art Gallery in Zhenjiang (Jiangsu) 

Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Zhenjiang Municipal People’s Government jointly organized an arts exhibition at the prestigious Xijin Art Gallery in Zhenjiang on 17 March 2017. The art exhibit was jointly inaugurated by Consul General Prakash Gupta along with Chairman of Zhenjiang People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. 

A large number of art lovers from Zhenjiang turned up to view the exhibition of Indian paintings (drawn by Chinese veteran artist Wang Zhijie) titled “India through Chinese Eyes”. It is worth noting that Mr. Wang, after his return from India, painted nothing but the Indian landscapes, and subsequently donated these paintings to the Consulate. 

In addition, a parallel exhibition on Buddhism was also inaugurated comprising more than ninety photographs of various prominent Buddhist sites/monasteries from across India. The exhibition, which is being inaugurated for the first time in China, offers a glimpse of Buddhism in its birth place – India. The exhibition portrays the life of Buddha, his journey to enlightenment, and spread of Buddhism as religion, philosophy and way of life. The set of pictures were sent by the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs of Government of India, and put together by ace photographer Binoy K Behl. 

Separately, the exhibition would also presented impressions about India, captured by famous Zhenjiang photographer Hua Yunqing, who had visited India and captured its sites and sceneries through his photographic lens. 

All these three sets of paintings and photographs showcasing various facets of India, will be on display at the prestigious Xijin Gallery beginning 17 March, which will last for a period of two weeks.  

3)        Indian Food Festival commences at the Zhenjiang Crown Plaza 

The Indian Food Festival was organized as part of the India Week celebrations, and jointly inaugurated by Consul General Prakash Gupta along with Chairman of Zhenjiang People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. 

A large number of Indian delicacies were put on the main buffet of the Crown Plaza Hotel for Zhenjiang Food lovers by two Indian chefs, who had been deployed in Zhejiang for the India Week celebrations. 

An art troupe from ICCR also performed a Bollywood piece at the inaugural ceremony of the Food Festival, which received wide applause from the nearly 100 plus audience that had come to attend the inaugural of the Food Festival. 

It is expected that the Indian Food Section will be on display at the Crown Plaza Hotel until 24 March 2017, and will offer some of the best selection of Indian food to Zhenjiang residents. 

4)        Indian Film Festival commences at the Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang – inaugural screening has more than 1000 students present

The Indian Film Festival jointly inaugurated by Consul General Prakash Gupta along with President of Jiangsu University. 

Given the tremendous interest generated by Indian films amongst Chinese audiences, the week-long Indian Film Festival will eight of India’s most successful recent movies – “PK” “Three Idiots” “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” “Taare Zameen Par” “Queen” “English Vinglish” “Mary Kom” “Ek Villain”– all with Chinese subtitles/sound-  and would be available for viewing as part of the Indian Film Festival Jiangsu University campus. 

The opening screening showcased PK to a packed audience of nearly 1000 students of Jiangsu University, where its President underscored the importance of films as playing a key role in better appreciation of Indian culture in Chinese minds.  

The Indian Film Festival will continue at the Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang till 24 March 2017, showcasing one Indian movie each evening to Jiangsu University students. 

5)        Educational Exchanges 

In addition, in the field of educational exchanges an MoU on Project Cooperation, was also signed between Jiangsu University and leading Indian educational institute from Odisha viz. Kalinga Institute of Information Technology (KIIT) University. 

All these events showcasing various facets of India received very enthusiastic response from Zhenjiang audiences as large number of local people turned up to participate in the India Week celebrations. Earlier, Party Secretary of Zhenjiang, Mr. Xia Jinwen received the Indian delegation led by Consul General and discussed ways and means to further promote all round cultural and economic cooperation between India and Zhenjiang, 

Zhenjiang (Jiangsu)

17 March 2017