For the first time in the country, a “Saudi Cultural Week” showcasing the Arab country's rich cultural heritage, art and fashion has been organised on a big scale here in the Capital.
Organised jointly by Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, the cultural week has multiple components. It was inaugurated at Lalit Kala Akademi on Tuesday. The event had another first as the much sought after holy water from the Zamzan well at Makkah was served to visitors in miniature jars by men dressed in traditional robes.
The walls at the Akademi are decorated with art works of different hues and Arab garments are on display. Six artists are present to explain their works to visitors who want to know about the art scene in the West Asian country. The exhibition showcases over 100 Persian and Arabic calligraphic art, paintings, heritage photographs, digital art and multi-media art.
Welcoming the 88-member delegation, ICCR Director-General Suresh Goel said Saudi Arabia is an important country for India both in terms of civilisation and in strategic and economic dimensions. According to Arab News Editor-in-Chief Khaled Almaeena, who will deliver a talk on the geo-political situation in the Gulf at Jamia Millia Islamia on Thursday, a small but significant beginning has been made to cement cultural ties between India and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Cultural Week is on up to October 1. The exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi is on till September 30.
As part of the cultural week, a 60-member cultural troupe from Saudi Arabia country will present music and popular folk performances at Siri Fort Auditorium-I this Thursday.
