Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his delight as the five-day Ramayana Festival got underway in the national capital ahead of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit that begins on January 25.
In a series of tweets, Modi said: “Delighted to know that the Ramayana Festival, with participation of all ten ASEAN countries, begins in Delhi today. This celebrates India’s deep civilizational and historical relations with the ASEAN region.”
“An important part of a series of events to commemorate 25 years of India-ASEAN relations, the Festival is a fitting prelude to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on 25th January,” he added.
“Troupes from ASEAN countries will display our shared heritage also at Lucknow, Ayodhya, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad,” Modi said further.
The Indian epic saga Ramayana, which is also a popular theme for theatre presentation in ASEAN countries, has been conceptualised into a festival in a bid to further enhance India-ASEAN ties.
The fest is being organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and will see participation of 10 countries — Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Their performance will reveal the assimilation, indigenisation and re-interpretation the epic has undergone in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
After their performances in Delhi, Ramayana groups from across the globe will also be performing in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya and Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Gujarat’s Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, the largest so far ASEAN-India business and investment summit is slated to be held in New Delhi on January 25 which will be attended by all the 10 leaders from South-East Asia.
The summit to celebrate 25 years of partnership will be followed by the presence of all 10 leaders as chief guests at India’s Republic Day on January 26.
(With inputs from agencies)