Independence Day 2015: Celebrate freedom with food this time

It’s time to celebrate the United Cuisines of India in the Capital. The first edition of the Culture Ministry’s flagship programme “Bharat Parv” is making waves across the city. Over the next few evenings, there will be a mega showcase of the culture and cuisines of India at various venues in the Capital, and the event culminates on August 15, Independence Day.

“State-centric food stalls will be set up to give people an opportunity to experience cuisine from different parts of the country. Artistes from all over India have been invited to perform folk dance forms such as birha gayan, badhai, ghoomar, phag dance and bhaangda,” said an official from the Culture Ministry, which has collaborated with Delhi Tourism and NDMC for the event. A highlight of the event will be the phase at at the Garden of Five Senses where popular street vendors from 13 states have been invited to put up their stalls.

Sources in the Culture Ministry says that the government is hosting Bharat Parv with an aim to “revive the cultural milieu in urban India” and the proposal is learnt to have been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Bharat Parv, which was inaugurated by Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma at Dilli Haat INA on Monday evening, comes in the backdrop of the government’s ‘Festivals of India’ which are held overseas to build Brand India by showcasing the country’s culture and heritage of the country. These events are a mix of dance performances, musical shows, literary meets and other theme-based cultural events and art exhibitions. “With Bharat Parv, the aim is to replicate such events in India as well. We will start with the metros first, and then assess if such events can be scaled up to smaller cities as well,” said the official.

Schedule
Dilli Haat Janakpuri – August 7 to 15
Dilli Haat Pitampura – August 8 to 12
Meghdoot Theatre, Ferozeshah Road – August 10 to 14
Garden of Five Senses – August 10 to 15
Timings: 5pm to 10pm