9-11 FEBRUARY 2014-LAO PDR

MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Design: [email protected] MESSAGE Festivals of India abroad give wonderful opportunities for the Indian Diaspora to rejuvenate their hereditary cultural inclinations. I am glad that Festival of India is happening in Lao PDR where large number of artists and artisans are participating.

I take this opportunity to compliment the officials of Ministry of Culture and its various participating organisations that have made lot of efforts in putting together this colourful extravaganza. I extend a very warm invitation to the people of Lao PDR to come in large numbers and enjoy the cultural feast being organised for them.

I wish the Festival of India in Lao PDR a grand success.

13 January, 2014 (CHANDRESH KUMARI KATOCH) Buddh Mahotsava, Sand Mandala organised as part of A Mandala is a cosmic diagram that represents the dwelling place or celestial mansion of this, will witness the a deity. Both the deity, who reside in the mandala and the mandala itself, are recognized as construction of Sand pure expressions of Buddha’s fully enlightened mind. Mandala can be visualized, painted or Mandala, Butter Sculpture, constructed with wood, precious jewels, rice, flower and the like. Sand is considered to be Sacred Dance and Lama a superb medium because of its number and the great skill required to create the Mandala’s Dhamma Talks, Meditation, Chant by the monks from exquisite details. The artist will chant before starting the Mandala creation. Then the blue the Himalayan region. print of the Mandala’s design is outlined and the artist begins constructing the Mandala and Chanting This is conducted from the center to outward. The coloured sand is applied through a metal funnel, called especially in those parts Chakpu. In general, all Mandala have outer, inner, and secret meanings. On the outer level, The celebrated land of saints and seers, India has played the role of the “Jagad Guru”, especially in the field of the world where the they represent the world in its divine form; on the inner level, they represent a map by which of spirituality, for centuries. Among the many , Buddhism, founded in 500 BC by Buddha Sakya Muni, is one Buddha’s messages have the ordinary human mind is transformed into the enlightened mind; and on the secret level, among the prominent schools and sects. Buddha’s teachings, based on non-violence, universal peace and not been thoroughly truth, flourished in India. And later, by the 3rd Century BC, it began to spread throughout South Asia. disseminated in earlier By the 7th Century AD, having spread throughout East Asia and South East Asia, Buddhism probably had centuries. the largest religious following in the world.

The history stands testimony to the fact that wherever Buddhism had marked its presence, it brought the message of harmony, non-violence and peace, in a succinct manner. It is therefore, the responsibility of India and its people to make a contribution to the present world by spreading the message of peace, non-violence and truth, as propagated by the Buddha.

Hence, it becomes the golden opportunity to bring the message of the Buddha to the world at large, through Buddh Mahotsava, conducted as part of the Festival of India organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. The Festival of India is organised by the Ministry in countries across the world, with a view to facilitate and encourage cooperation in the realms of art and culture, education, including academic activity in the field of science and technology, public health, mass media of information and education. percussion instrument like cymbals. Cham is often they predict the primordially perfect balance of the subtle energy of the body and the clear light dimension of mind. depicts incidents from the life of Padmasambhava, The creation of a sand painting is said to affect purification and healing on these three levels. Mandalas are created the 9th century teacher and other saints. In India for rituals of initiation and for meditations; it is also created to purify the environment and its inhabitants to bring Cham is performed in Himalayan region like Ladakh, healing energy and promote harmony in the world. Since sand Mandalas are created in the spirit of impermanence Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and and non-attachment, after they are completed, the Mandalas are dismantled with a ceremony and the blessed sand Arunachal Pradesh, during cultural and religious is offered to the body of water for the benefit of marine life, the environment and all sentient beings. festivals.

Butter Sculpture Lama Chant Butter sculptures are an ancient Tibetan/Himalayan Buddhist art, dating back to the 15th century. These sculptures Buddhist chants are a form of musical verse or means of preparing the mind for meditation are traditionally made out of coloured butter, which is shaped into beautiful coloured sculpture. Butter sculptures incantation. They exist in just about every part of especially as part of formal practice (in either are made for offering to enlightened beings with an eatable substance in decorative form to accumulate merit in mass the Buddhist world, from the Wats in Thailand to the a lay or monastic context). Some forms of form to bring peace, prosperity and good luck to individuals and society. The tradition was passed on from generation Tibetan Buddhist temples in India and Tibet. Almost Buddhism also use chanting for ritualistic to generation, and even today, dozens of monks work for months on a single giant butter sculpture to be displayed every Buddhist school has some tradition of chanting purposes. In the Vajrayana tradition, chanting and offered on the 15th day or full moon of the 1st lunar month as Losar the New Year celebration, to mark the associated with it, regardless of being Theravada or is also used as an invocative ritual in order to miracle performed by Lord Buddha. Buddh Mahotsava will feature a live demonstration of a butter sculpture being Mahayana. In Buddhism, chanting is the traditional set one’s mind on a deity’s Tantric ceremony, made, and will end with a traditional ceremony of presenting Mandala or particular concept one wishes to the finished sculptures. further in themselves. Himalayan Buddhist monks are noted for their skill at throat- Cham (Sacred Dance) singing, a specialized form of chanting in which, The Cham (sacred dance) is a lively masked and costumed by amplifying the voice’s upper partials, the dance associated with Mahayana sect of Buddhism, and chanter can produce multiple distinct pitches is part of Buddhist Festival. The dance is accompanied by simultaneously. music played by monks using traditional instruments. The dance often offer moral instructions relating to the act of compassion for all sentient beings and is held to bring merit to all who perceive them. Cham dances are considered a form of meditation, and an offering to the deities. The leader of the Cham is typically a musician, keeping time using some Classical dance on Jatayu moksham ramayana

The India Festival will feature classical dance performances, based on celebrated Indian Epic-the Ramayana. This rendition is performed by the Kalakshetra Foundation, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Kalakshetra Foundation is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India since 1993. Started in 1936 by Smt. Rukmini Devi with an intention of imparting effective education through arts, it now consists of 2 schools, College of Fine-Arts and the Craft Research & Education centre.

The Kalakshetra repertory company comprises of select staff, students and alumni of Kalakshetra. Since the early years of the institution, the company has performed to wide acclaim around the world and continues to uphold the highest standards of performance. Each member of the Kalakshetra repertory company is an accomplished and creative solo performer, a result of the rigorous theoretical and practical arts training they receive at Kalakshetra. These artists combine as the Kalakshetra Repertory Company to present riveting programs of Indian classical dance Sabari Moksham is the fourth of Rukmini Devi’s six part Ramayanam series of dance-dramas. Kalakshetra and music. Their repertoire includes mythology based dance-dramas, classical and contemporary will present an edited version of it until the meeting of Rama and Jatayu for the presentation. Bharatanatyam compositions, as well as programmes of the varied folk dances of India. Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, sees Rama while he is staying in Panchavati, and is attracted to him. Rama spurns her when she offers her love, and Lakshmana chastises and disfigures her when she tries to harm Sita Kalakshetra productions have come to be recognized worldwide for their impeccable technique in her jealousy. Ravana is furious, and vows revenge. He arranges for the demon Maricha to assume the form and aesthetics. Senior dancers and musicians of the institute continue to add to the already of a golden deer and entice Rama away while in the form of an ascetic he approaches Sita and abducts her. vast repertoire. The king of eagles, Jatayu comes to the aid of Sita, but is killed in the attempt to save her. Choodamani pradanam Mahapattabhishekam Rama wanders in the forests with Lakshmana, Vibhishana, brother of searching for Sita who has been abducted Ravana surrenders to Sri by Ravana. He helps Sugriva, the king of the Rama, having failed in his monkeys, to regain his kingdom by killing attempt to make Ravana the usurper Vali. In return, Sugriva sends his see the folly of keeping Sita trusted envoy Hanuman, to search for Sita. captive. Rama, with the aid of Hanuman crosses the ocean and finds Sita the army of monkeys builds a imprisoned by Ravana in Ashokavana in Lanka. bridge across the ocean and Sita is overjoyed to see Rama’s messenger fights a battle with Ravana. and gives her crest-jewel to be handed over In the first day of battle, to Sri Rama. Ravana’s guards find Hanuman Lakshmana is mortally in Lanka, capture him, and punish him by wounded but is saved by a setting fire to his tail. Hanuman sets fire to miraculous herb. Further, the city with his burning tail and escapes. after a fierce battle, Ravana is He returns triumphantly to Sri Rama with the finally killed. Sita proves her choodamani. purity by entering the fire and is united with Sri Rama. They return to Ayodhya and Rama accepts his kingdom back from Bharata. Dharam Darshan: Experiencing the Dharma

The objective of Dharam Darshan, the Exhibition, is to explore and illustrate the

life and teachings of the Buddha as well Worshiping of the Dharmachakra, Sanchi as the sacred sites of events depicting the legend along with the dissemination of Buddhism, which is based on Dhamma. This is rendered through the masterpieces of Indian art, artifacts and rituals existing The Pali word Dhamma or Dharma in in the numerous sites in India - a cultural Sanskrit, refers to the doctrine taught journey reviving the enduring images of the by the Buddha during the 6th century Buddhist movement from the ancient times to B.C. Dhamma took the form of one of the present, through the ages. the world’s greatest religions, accepted Sanchi Stupa throughout the world. Basically it is The fostering of Buddhism throughout Indian a way of life for Peace, Happiness and sub-continent is evident in the remains of Harmonious living. The over 2,550 Buddhist art and architecture spread out years old legend on the life, times and in the sacred places of Lumbini, Bodhgaya, preaching of the Buddha are ever- Sarnath, Sanchi, Piprahwa, Ajanta, Nalanda, relevant, and forms the core theme Amravati, Nagarjunkoda, etc. of the event. Dhamekha Stupa Saranath

Footsteps of Buddha, Amravati Buddha,The Preaching Saranath The artistic arrangement at the Unrivalled views of these sites exhibition is complimented with and important artifacts which audio chantings of Pali Suttas,

remain undiminished even or verses from Tripitaka. Arial view of Nalanda Site today, forms one of the main arms of the exhibition. Art is the best expression of spirituality “ A unique Being, an and forms the medium of the extraordinary Man arises in Gift of Jetavana Vihara, Bharhut next section of the Dharma this world for the benefit of the Darshan which is collection of many, for the happiness of the Pataki tales recounted through many, out of the compassion of Tank of Lumbini the world, for the good, benefit, illustrated paintings and write- and happiness of Gods and men. ups in story form. Who is this Unique Being? It is the Tathagata, the Exalted, Fully The rich visuals in the form Enlightened One.” of statues, reliefs, mural, - Anguttara Nikaya,part 1, XIII, page 22 paintings, photo blow-ups Empty Throne, Bharhut arranged in an artistic manner interspersed with sayings from Tripitaka, their explanatory write-ups, captions and other signage will also be the highlights the exhibition. The Bhudha in Bhumiparsha mudra

Lion Capital, Saranath Taming of Nalagiri Jataka Story of Angulimal Indian cuisine or Indian food encompasses a wide variety of regional cuisines, For instance, potato, a staple of Indian diet was brought to India by the Portuguese, who also native to India. Given the range of diversity in soil type, climate and introduced chillies and breadfruit. Indian cuisine has also shaped the history of international occupations, these cuisines vary significantly from each other and use locally relations; the spice trade between India and Europe is often cited by historians as the primary available spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Indian food is also heavily catalyst for Europe’s Age of Discovery. influenced by religious and cultural choices and traditions. Taste of India Historical incidents such as foreign invasions, trade relations and colonialism Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe and Asia. It has also influenced other have also played a role in introducing certain foods to the country. cuisines across the world, especially those from Southeast Asia, the British Isles and the Caribbean. The Mehndi Plant, also known as ‘Henna’ belongs to the genus Lythracea of the flowering plants. Its botanical name is Lawsonia inermis. The leaves of the plant contain a deep red dye which tends to be more towards maroon than towards red. It grows all over India and is commonly grown as a hedge plant. The leaves of the plant are crushed into a smooth Yoga paste and the paste is applied on the hands for a more beautiful world and the feet in intricate designs and left to dry. During the drying process, lemon juice mixed Yoga is the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or with sugar is applied to the hands and feet in disciplines, which originated in ancient India with a view order to enrich the colour that the henna paste to attain a state of permanent peace. According to Yoga will leave on the wearer. Once dry, the paste is Yajnavalkya, Yoga is the union of the individual psyche scraped off and the hands and feet are protected with the transcendental self. Yoga developed in the same from water for some time. Eventually the design ascetic circles as the early Sramana movements (Buddhists, drawn on the hands and feet becomes deep Jainas and Ajivikas), probably in around the sixth and fifth maroon in colour and appears as an attractive centuries BCE. In Hinduism, yoga was adopted as one of the temporary tattoo. The use of Henna on auspicious six āstika schools of Hindu philosophy. and festive occasions is widespread in India. By the turn of the first millennium, hatha yoga emerged Both women and men wear henna tattoos at the from tantra. It, along with its many modern variations, is time of marriage while the women also wear the the style that many people associate with the word yoga tattoos on other festivals like ‘Teej’. It is said that today. Gurus from India later introduced yoga to the west, the intensity of the Henna colour on the palms following the success of Swami Vivekananda in the late of the bride signifies that intensity with which 19th and early 20th century. In the 1980s, yoga became her husband will love her in future. Henna paste popular as a system of physical exercise across the Western Tropical tattoos is also a wonderful natural dye for the hair, world. This form of yoga is often called Hatha yoga. Many and is said to have medicinal and conditioning studies have tried to determine the effectiveness of yoga as properties to improve the hair growth and lustre. a complementary intervention for cancer, schizophrenia, All in all, Mehndi or Henna is an integral part of asthma, and heart disease. Long-term yoga practitioners Mehndi art the Indian culture. reported musculo-skeletal and mental health improvements. Jodhaa-Akbar is an Indian epic romantic historical drama. The film centres around the romance between the Muslim Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, played by Hrithik Roshan, and the Hindu Princess Jodhabai who becomes his wife, played by Aishwarya Rai.

THE The film has won the Audience Award for Best FILM Foreign Language Film at the São Paulo International Film Festival, two awards at the FESTIVAL Golden Minbar International Film Festival, seven Star Screen Awards and five Filmfare Awards, in addition to two nominations at the 3rd Asian Film Awards.

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker Produced by Ronnie Screwvala Screenplay by Haidar Ali Ashutosh Gowariker Story by Haidar Ali Ashutosh Gowariker Starring Hrithik Roshan Aishwarya Rai Music by A. R. Rahman Cinematography Kiran Deohans Editing by Ballu Saluja Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (I Have Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali Given My Heart, Darling) is a 1999 Bollywood Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (The Heart Desires, but billed Dil Chahta Hai romantic drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Screenplay by Sanjay Leela Bhansali as Do Your Thing) ) is a 2001 Indian coming-of- Bhansali. It was released in the English- Kenneth Phillipps age comedy-drama film, starring Aamir Khan, Saif speaking world as ‘Straight from the Heart’. Story by Pratap Karvat Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali The film stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia. The first film written Aishwarya Rai. The story is adopted from Starring Salman Khan and directed by Farhan Akhtar, it is set in modern- Maitreyi Devi’s Bengali novel ‘Na Hanyate’, Ajay Devgan day urban Mumbai and focuses on a major period of and is based on a love triangle. It also Aishwarya Rai transition in the lives of three young friends. reflects the influence of the German novella Music by Ismail Darbar ‘Immensee’ and the 1943 Nazi era film based Cinematography Anil Mehta Dil Chahta Hai was critically acclaimed, winning on it, ‘Immensee’. Editing by Bela Segal that year’s National Film Award for Best Feature It was filmed throughout the Gujarat- Film in Hindi. Rediff named it as one of the top 10 Rajasthan border region, in addition to Bollywood movies of the decade. Budapest, Hungary, which was used to represent Italy.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (You Don’t Directed by Zoya Akhtar Directed by Farhan Akhtar Live Twice) is a 2011 Indian coming-of-age Produced by Farhan Akhtar Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani comedy-drama road film. Made on a budget Ritesh Sidhwani Screenplay by Farhan Akhtar of INR55 crore (US$8.8 million), the film was Screenplay by Zoya Akhtar Kassim Jagmagia shot in Spain, India, Egypt and the UK. Reema Kagti Starring Aamir Khan Story by Zoya Akhtar Saif Ali Khan The film had a worldwide release in 1800 Reema Kagti Akshaye Khanna screens and was a critical and commercial Starring Hrithik Roshan Preity Zinta success. It grossed INR153 crore (US$24 Abhay Deol Sonali Kulkarni million) worldwide and was adjudged a Farhan Akhtar Dimple Kapadia Super-Hit. After its theatrical run, the film Katrina Kaif Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy was nominated for several awards in various Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran categories and won many of them. Cinematography Carlos Catalan Editing by A. Sreekar Prasad Editing by Ritesh Soni Anand Subaya Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (Sometimes Directed by Kundan Shah Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (He who wins is Directed by Mansoor Khan yes, sometimes no) This is one of the rare Produced by Vikram Mehrohtra the conqueror) is a 1992 Bollywood sports Produced by Nasir Hussain mainstream Hindi movies in which the Written by Story & Screenplay: drama film directed by Mansoor Khan (who Starring Aamir Khan hero plays the role of a loser. It has been Pankaj Advani, earlier directed Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak). Ayesha Jhulka considered one of Shahrukh Khan’s best Kundan Shah It was remade in 2003 Bengali film Champion, Mamik Singh performances, and he has said that it is Starring Shahrukh Khan starring Bengali Superstar Jeet and inspired Deepak Tijori his favourite film. Suchitra Krishnamoorthi 1999 Telugu film Thammudu and 2001 Tamil Kulbhushan Kharbanda Deepak Tijori film Badri. The film won the Filmfare award Pooja Bedi He received the Filmfare Critics Award for Music by Jatin-Lalit for best movie that year. Sundarraman Poosa Best Performance for his role. Cinematography Virendra Saini Music by Jatin-Lalit Editing by Renu Saluja Cinematography Najeeb Khan

Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra Chashme Buddoor is a 1981 romantic Directed by Sai Paranjpye Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra comedy-buddy film. The film is about three Produced by Gul Anand and Jayshree Written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali students; Siddharth (Farooq Shaikh), Omi Anand-Makhija Kamna Chandra (Rakesh Bedi) and Jai (Ravi Baswani) at Written by Sai Paranjpye Vidhu Vinod Chopra Delhi University, who don’t go home during Starring Farooq Shaikh Starring Anil Kapoor summer vacation and how a girl Neha Deepti Naval Jackie Shroff (Deepti Naval) comes in their life. Saeed Jaffrey Manisha Koirala Rakesh Bedi Anupam Kher The film was a silver jubilee hit. The remake Ravi Baswani Music by R. D. Burman version directed by David Dhawan and the Music by Raj Kamal Cinematography Binod Pradhan original digitally restored film were both Cinematography Virendra Sahni Editing by Renu Saluja released on 5 April 2013. The lyrics written by Indu Jain were composed by Raj Kamal 1942: A Love Story is a 1994 Bollywood film. The film was highly acclaimed for its and sung by Yesudas, Hemanti Shukla. music, songs, picturization, cinematography, lyrics and the portrayal of its leading lady Manisha Koirala, a turning point for her career. The film was released some time after the death of the music director, Rahul Dev Burman. The film received five Filmfare Awards. This is the first Indian film to use Dolby Stereo. Kalakshetra Classical Dance on Ramayana -JATAYU MOKSHA -Ravana Sanyasi