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News Coverage  [16-MAY-08]

New Delhi: The annual musical event called 'Qutub Festival' started on Saturday. A classical expert, Ahsaan Bharti Ghungruwala, treated music lovers to a spiritual and energetic performance of qawwalis. Performing along with his troupe, Ghungruwala left the audience spellbound with his renditions. Artists from Pakistan would also enthral the music lovers during this two-day music festival. The Qutub Festival is being celebrated for the last 15 years. It got this name after the 12th century monument Qutub Minar played a perfect host for the event. It not only showcases the cultural art forms of the country, but also puts this classic structure in the cynosure of national and international attention. Set amidst the historical background of the Minar, a number of cultural events are held as a part of the Festival, where veterans of Indian classical music and folk musicians give spectacular performances.

Shimla Toy Train listed for World Heritage status  [27-MAY-08]

Kalka (Himachal Pradesh): The Kalka-Shimla toy train of the Indian Railways is being evaluated to be listed as a World Heritage site. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officials began the work on Tuesady. "I have done reports for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamil Nadu. On both those occasions, the reports were favorable. The sites were inscribed. But I can't say anything about this one yet," said Robert Lee, a UNESCO consultant. The toy train, so called because of its miniature size and its movement at a snail's pace, are presents an old-world charm. Introduced in 1903, the train has chugged along to the present times. "The Kalka-Shimla section, which was opened 104 years back, has got some technologically superior features, particularly in terms of bridges, curves and tunnels. The mechanical rolling stock is the most heavy worked narrow gauge railway on the entire world, not only in India,"

India signs art and culture agreement with Brunei  [27-MAY-08]

India Thursday signed an agreement with oil-rich Brunei, ruled by one of the richest men in the world, to strengthen cooperation in the fields of culture, arts and sports.

The agreement would result in the exchange of students, artists, academics and sports persons.

Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and Brunei's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which a joint consultative committee (JCC) would be constituted for carrying out its provisions

Keralal to promote traditional craft  [27-MAY-08]

The second edition of the 46-day Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF), to start later this year, would promote the traditional and tribal crafts of the state.

'The festival will open Dec 1, and unlike the first one held last year, this time it would be held in each and every municipality and corporation across the state,' state Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters Wednesday.