NEW DELHI, Sep 4: Dilli Haat at INA here is all set to bring the fun-filled evenings from September 7 to October 12 as a major part of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010. The 35-day long cultural extravanganza entitled ‘Festival of India- Delhi Celebrates’ would commence on September 7 with the festival of Manipur comprising of different cultural items and exhibition of handloom and handicrafts items.
Rajesh Juneja, Manager of Dilli Haat today informed that the Festival of India would be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, with the presence of the Chief secretary of Delhi Rakesh Mehta on September 7 at 7 pm and it would be followed by the performance of varied dances of Manipur organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur.
The Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur deputed a Manipur cultural troupe consisting of 30 artistes for the dance performance. Manipuri dance items like Maibi Laiching Jagoi, Thougal Jagoi, Cheirol (Stick dance), Thang-Ta, Dhon Dholak Cholom, Sim Laam (Kabui), Pung Cholom and Basanta Raas will be performed in the evening.
From September 8 until October 5, everyday one state will present their cultural programme starting with Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Bihar , Karnataka, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand etc.
From October 6 to 12, seven zonal cultural centres under the Ministry of Culture will present different cultural items of each zone.
For the festival, Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur deputed five exhibitors of Manipuri handloom and handicrafts for showcasing the Manipuri products.
During the festival, Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur will highlight various aspects of tourism in Manipur, tourist spots etc through audio- visual medium. Marketing Managers of Classic Hotel, Imphal and Shija Hospitals and Research Institute Pvt Ltd, Imphal will display their respective products on hotel tourism and medical tourism respectively in Manipur.
Apart from the Festival of India, Delhi Government is organizing Incredible India Festival at Baba Kharak Singh Marg here incorporating the Emporia Complex and Food Festival with some cultural programmes.
In connection with the Commonwealth Games 2010 hosted by Delhi in October 3-14, Delhi Government conceptualized the initiative called “Delhi Celebrates” which would project the best that India had to offer in all aspects of Indian culture.
Delhi government feels that Dilli haat at INA here is a major tourist attraction today for its specialties of different food stalls run by most states including Manipur besides various handloom and handicrafts stalls.
In the letter dated 23rd July 2010 written by the Chief Secretary of Delhi, Rakesh Mehta to all Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories, he drew the attention of the state government concerned to project the State cuisine in the most positive way focusing on their own food specialties with aesthetics during the ‘Delhi Celebrates’. He urged the Chief Secretaries to direct his Resident Commissioner to visit the food stall regularly to ensure that it projected the right image of the State/ Union Territory particularly at a time when the eyes of the world would be on Delhi .
Mention may be made that Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur has been running a Manipuri Food Stall at Dilli Haat, INA here occupying stall number 12 since 1998 to popularize Manipur cuisine.