The "Glimpses of India Festival' in China was inaugurated (May 7) by Mr. Ravindra Singh, Secretary Ministry of Culture, Government of India along with Mr Cai Wei, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) & Consul General of India in Shanghai Mr. Naveen Srivastava by lighting of a ceremonial Indian lamp portraying an auspicious start to the year-long celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion, India's Vice Minister Mr Singh spoke of traditional warm and friendly relations shared by India and China based on historical and cultural linkages over centuries.  He also mentioned that one of the main objectives of the Festival of India was to expand people to people contacts so as to enable better understanding each other's culture, tradition and heritage. He told the audience that the year round festival would showcase a wide range of events including Indian performing art, visual and photographic exhibitions, Indian modern art, food festival, film festival as well as events involving eminent Indian & Chinese scholars & writers. The festival would also include bringing Yoga masters from India.  Consul General Mr Naveen Srivastava in his speech spoke about the ‘cultural ties' being an enduring foundation in development of relations between India and China.

The inauguration was followed by a mesmerizing performance by Kalakshetra Repertory Company. The troupe performed dance drama based on scenes from Ramayana at the prestigious Shanghai Oriental Arts Center in Pudong, Shanghai. The Opera Hall of the Oriental Arts Center was packed with an audience of more than 1000 local Chinese residents who witnessed the fascinating performance. Senior leaders and officials from Shanghai, and provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang were also present for the performance.

Kalakshetra has produced and molded generations of acclaimed artists in a distinctive style. Kalakshetra focuses on bharatanatyam, carnatic vocal and instrumental music, the visual arts, traditional crafts and textile design, textual heritage, aesthetics, history and philosophy. The repertory from Kalakshetra foundation has presented worldwide a wide variety of dance-dramas, a range of authentic folk dances of India, the complete Bharata Natyam repertoire in solo and group forms, in traditional compositions and new works. The music ensemble has presented solo vocal and instrumental compositions, as well as group orchestral compositions for voice and instruments in various venues around the world.