The Cervantino International Festival, for the first time, hosted India as the Guest of Honour in Mexico City from October 10-28

Muktesh Pardeshi, ambassador of India to Mexico, while talking to FE Online said that: “Almost 125 artists will travel from Tijuana to Yucatan, making the largest ever participation from an Asian country in the Latin American Region. This is an honour which no country has ever received before and this will help us in building our soft power footprint in the region.”

Mr Pardeshi also stressed the fact that this is a perfect example of Unity in Diversity, as the groups that are participating belong from the north, south, east and west of India.

Ten groups from India, that are sponsored by the ICCR, will be participating and the performances will range from dance and music to puppets and theatre and will be focussing classic and contemporary styles.

 ‘A passage to Bollywood’ by Ashley Lobo was performed in front of an 8000 plus strong audience at the inauguration of the festival.

India will be participating in 110 cultural events, covering almost 30 plus cities in Mexico.

Marcela Diez Martínez, the general director of Promotion and Cultural Festivals and the International Cervantino Festival, said that working with India has been “a huge discovery, to find a country that has many things in common with ours, with a strong tradition and a deep-rooted in their thinking and in their original peoples.”

A ‘House of India’ stall will be set up, where visitors will be able to buy food, clothing, handicrafts and furniture.

The ICCR will be donating a sculpture made by Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the Guanajuato’s people and to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.

(Header used: Cervantino Festival website)