Namaste France, a two-and-a-half-month-long festival which began here on Thursday, will serve as a window into Indian traditional arts, music, dance, theatre, literature, cinema and fashion.
The Indian Embassy in France, with the support of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is organising Namaste France cultural festival, which will go on till November 30.
The fest was inaugurated by Indian Ambassadir Mohan Kumar at the La Villette here.
"No two countries share such a special cultural relationship as France and India. While both countries are proud of their culture, they are open to the appreciation of other cultures. Namaste France is a wonderful opportunity to boost the vitality of our cultural exchanges. It is a reflection of the growing partnership between the two countries," Mohan Kumar said.
Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan with his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash and Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia and her troupe enthralled the Parisians.
Over 2,000 people attended the inaugural event and were mesmerised by the visual grandeur of the opening ceremony.
Sunaina Singh, Vice President of ICCR, representatives of French government, senators, deputies and other eminent personalities from public life and other friends of India, attended the opening concert.
During the festival, 70 events representing India's rich civilizational and cultural heritage will be organised in various major cities of France, including Paris, Strasbourg, Nice, Nantes, Marseilles, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Tropez and Tourcoing among others.
The Namaste France festival will act as the platform for the people of France to view and understand India's historically rich cultural traditions.
--IANS
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