Pakistani artists, activists to participate in peace festival

October 10th, 2009 RANCHI - Tribal men and women near Ranchi recently celebrated their annual cultural festival with pomp and gaiety. The two-day cultural festival called 'Murma festival' was celebrated at Murmu subdivision, 30 kilometers from Ranchi.

October 3rd, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Nearly 500 students from different countries participated in the annual International Peace Festival held in Chandigarh. The five-day festival, from September 27 to October 1, saw students from Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, USA, Philippines interact and exchange with each other their views and experiences.

September 21st, 2009 JAMMU - Setting a perfect example of communal harmony, Muslim artists here prepared effigies of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnath for 'Dussehra' celebrations. These artists have been preparing effigies and it is main source of their livelihood.

September 6th, 2009 TRICHUR - Performers dressed as tigers and danced in the traditional Pulikali, or tiger dance, here on Saturday marking the end of the annual harvest festival, "Onam". The harvest festival of Onam is the season for staging some of the dying traditional folk dances in the tourist hotspot of Kerala.

August 14th, 2009 GUWAHATI - Child artistes in Guwahati spread the messages of peace through the medium of drama at a recent three-day theatre festival. The young artistes expressed their thoughts on how humanity suffers irrespective of caste, creed or gender due to violence.

August 12th, 2009 CHINDWARA - A festival showcasing the tribal art and culture called, Bhujaliya, was organised in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. The festival is celebrated for three days in the culminating days of monsoons.

July 23rd, 2009 KARGIL - A colourful dance festival, featuring artists from all parts of the country, was recently organised here by the Indian Army to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kargil war and to acknowledge the help and cooperation of the people of Kargil. Artists from all over the country came together to perform and spread the message of unity and integration.

May 24th, 2009 SIKKIM - Assam Linzey in Sikkim celebrated Sakewa, a festival to offer tribute to Mother Earth on Saturday. Sakewa is held as a community prayer and during this festival sweets and food grains are offered to Lord Kubera, who is the God of food and wealth.

April 11th, 2009 LAHORE - A large number of Sikhs arrived here Saturday to take part in the Baisakhi festival, Geo TV reported. According to the report, the first special train carrying 290 Sikhs arrived at Wagah railway station Saturday morning.

March 17th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - To give a boost to arts and culture and present Chandigarh as a tourism hub, the city's administration has organised a six-day Arts and Heritage Festival beginning March 27. The festival will see participation of nearly 500 artists from all over the country besides some proclaimed artists.

March 13th, 2009 AGARTALA - Tripura is making an endeavor to revive Indian classical dance through various festivals in a big way. Recently, a three-day classical dance festival "Kathak Yatra" was organised at Nazrul Kalakhetra in Agartala.

February 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Reciprocating the 'message of peace' carried by a Pakistani delegation that visited the capital last month, an Indian group of artists, activists, academicians and journalists is set to go across the border on a similar mission. Concerned about the recent turn of events between the two countries in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the India delegation will meet civil society members, the media and politicians in Pakistan urging that the peace process should not be deferred under any circumstances.

February 7th, 2009 AGRA - With the Mumbai terror attacks scarring people's sensibilities, the 29th SAARC Festival of Literature here next month could well turn into a peace pilgrimage for the 100-plus literary figures from South Asia who are set to attend it. For the first time, Agra will play host to the annual festival from March 12-17.

January 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Artists' voices can be both provocative as well as healing and since they represent the people at large they can play a major role in the peace process between India and Pakistan, says Pakistani painter and human rights activist Salima Hashmi. 'A dictatorial government will always try and target the artists first because they represent the voice of the people.

January 8th, 2009 The Art Mall, one of the biggest private art houses in Asia, is hosting its month-long annual art festival at its Najafgarh premises. The festival, which kicked off Jan 2, will continue till Jan 31.