British-Indian artists and conservationists here marked the launch of a festival of arts and culture of the Deccan to be held at a newly-restored 16th century fort in Goa later this year.
The Deccan Heritage Foundation unveiled plans for the Reis Magos International Festival at a ceremony showcasing the historical Deccan region of India, at the Indian High Commission here yesterday.
The annual festival in India will be held at the Reis Magos Fort in Goa from December 12 to 14 this year, and will centre around three concerts, including traditional Goan, international celebrities, and a finale of a local schools competition, in its first year.
"The Deccan is a fabulous part of the country and the region is full of historical and cultural sites, including world heritage sites like Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta Caves and Hampi.
"I am Deccani, I grew up in Pune and have a great fascination for the place so I wanted to work together with this foundation to promote a place I hope more and more people will visit," said Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ranjan Mathai at the event.
"Goa is already an international destination with many foreign tourists and also by virtue of its 400-year association with Portugal.
"We would present concerts reflecting the burgeoning interest in western classical music in vogue all over India, with international artists participating and a mixed audience of those with an interest in India and Indians themselves," the foundation said in its statement.
The project has been spearheaded by Mary Anne Cordeiro, co-founder and chair of the Deccan Heritage Foundation, and internationally acclaimed Indian-origin opera singer Patricia Rozario with her pianist husband Mark Troop.
"Heritage is of extraordinary importance to Goa, owing to its unique historical background. We would like to propose festival themes that will reflect the rich heritage of Goa through its buildings, its language and its arts - all of which have a place in modern India," their statement added.
