Art and Culture Fest’23 Concludes on a Spectacular Note
Chandigarh, 22nd October 2023:The week-long enthralling evenings of the 2ndArt and Culture Fest 2023organised at the Bhavan Vidyalaya Sector 27 campus from 16th to 22nd October, came to a spectacular close today. It was the second year of the confluence of Infosys Foundation, Bengaluru and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bengaluru and Chandigarh Kendra to provide a platform to numerous artists in the visual and performing arts genres from the Tricity and around. This one-of-its kindweek-long Fest, aptly themed ‘The World is one Family’,was inaugurated by Mr Dharam Pal, IAS, Advisor to the Administrator, UT Chandigarh on 16th October 2023.
The Finale was presided over by the Chief Guest, Shri Sanjay Tandon, President Bharatiya Janata Party Chandigarh. The Guests of Honour for the day were Dr. Sameer Goel , Head, Infosys, Chandigarh, Mrs. Priya Tandon , a noted writer and blogger, Shri R.K Saboo, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chandigarh Kendra and Ms. Nagalaxmi Rao, Member Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bengaluru Kendra. Shri Jagesh Khaitan, Vice Chairman & Treasurer; Shri Manmohan Singh Kohli, Chairman Cultural Committee, Mr. Madhukar Malhotra, Honorary Secretary and Shri P.J. Singh, member, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chandigarh Kendra also graced the occasion with their presence.
With the lighting of theauspicious lamp by the Guests of Honour and other dignitaries, the event commenced with an intense play ‘Teesvi Shatabadhi’ directed by Dr. Chandrashekhar Prasad. Dr. Chandrashekhar Prasadis the Secretary and Creative Director of ‘Gumphan Theatre Society’, Chandigarh. He has been awarded with the prestigious “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2015 by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, for his outstanding work in the field of theatre. He is a recipient of the prestigious research fellowship of In laks India Foundation.
Dr. Chandrashekhar Prasad, along with an ensemble of refined actors presented a subliminal sojourn through a sci-fi play, encompassing the atomic bombing and its aftermath on human psyche. The intense play puts forward grave possibility of annihilation of the world by man and expressed a fervent desire that the creators of war should bury the hatchet.
The news about exemplary performances by the artists, throughout the eventful week had disseminated during the past days and the finale saw a congregation of enchanted spectators.
Over fifty well known artists participated in the art exhibition, ‘Art Matters’ and alive Art Workshop-‘The Magic Spell’, presenting their creation. Dr. Vishal Bhatnagar, a well-known Art Resource Person from Government Museum and Art Gallery Chandigarh, presented an informative talk on ‘Understanding Contemporary Art Market’.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Sanjay Tandon, commended Infosys Foundation, Bengaluru and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for working in collaboration towards strengthening and propagation of the hidden talents of our country.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Sameer Goel, congratulated the performers for putting up an aesthetically crafted show and expressed his plearure over the association.
The artists were appreciated and felicitated by the dignitaries.
The 2nd edition of Art and Culture Fest culminated with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Madhukar Malhotra, Honorary Secretary, who extended his heart felt gratitude to the organising committee for successfully conducting an event of this magnitude.